There was a writer here who had same wise comment on pessimism and optimism. I wish I had saved his article.

Anyways, he summarized why both pessimism and optimism are both faulty for moving the world forward. Both give agency to forces outside ourselves to effect the changes we really need to be making.

The USA may devolve into a one-party state soon, more or less making any elections redundant. The optimist may proclaim that "No, this is not going to happen." But that optimism is not enough to stop this trend, if this is indeed USA's destiny.

The USA needs to build a new democracy.