Fwiw, the VIX is back down close to the range where it usually bounces, although the bounces have been getting progressively weaker. The biggest bounce was in mid-2015 after the Chinese devalued the yuan and the US market tanked over 10% (and China's market dropped by over 40%, albeit from an artificial high).
In early 2016 the VIX also spiked up big as the US market had its big January drop following the Fed's first interest rate increase and hawkish guidance revision. Then the VIX spiked up in mid-2016 with the surprise Brexit vote, and again around the November US election.
Significant spikes in the VIX have been occuring approx every 5 or 6 months, so we're about due for something if the pattern repeats itself. Obama was timid and restrained compared to Trump, and it's probably inevitable that the Donald will get himself, and us, into some serious trouble before long.
