I think one reason is that the demographic changes make for tribal/identity politics which doesn't lend itself to optimism.
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Isn't it mindlessly pessimistic to think that people today are more pessimistic than they've ever been, without good cause?
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looking at country in aggregate erases the real problems of the impoverished, to name one group for which things aren't great.
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please excuse progressives for being cynical about "progress" when the 50 year $22 Trillion War on Poverty hasn't moved the needle
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The really annoying thing is not which opinion is currently normal, but that there are (social, not rational) norms for opinions
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Great piece. ICYM, here's a similar article by another cautious optimist
@LeifWenar http://nyti.ms/1KQJZXP Very 'Better Angels'.Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Delusions about "the good old days", you know before all these children that we raised screwed everything up.
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And mindless scapegoating.
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@nytimes ah yes, the "big goofy misunderstanding" hypothesis. Elites are in denial.Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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@nytimes prolly cause they live in the real world and you just read about itThanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Everything is relative & if you read progressives as cynical, perhaps U are the mindless pessimist!
Did love your book TBAOON
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"Mindless pessimism" I would say it is political demagogues feeding on the politically ignorant Cruz first then Trump
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Improvements are taken for granted immediately or just disbelieved. Statistics have no emotional traction,threats do
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POV question, POV answers
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brilliant article. Absolutely brilliant and should be read by everyone.
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Pessimism is not mindless in today's world. Your book's thesis strikes me as Pollyannaish. What better angels?
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Consider my book's(high praise from Kirkus)contrary thesis: http://wp.me/p6BQZ2-aC Also: http://wp.me/p6BQZ2-7a
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For some folks, it's always seemed to me to be an easy, lazy way to come off intellectually sharp - just be cynical/pessimistic.
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Conservatives are not conservative. Progressives have nothing to do with progress. IMO.
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@nytimes Even fMRI researches confirm that 'pessimists' have the most realistic views. / BTW, all wars were started by optimists.Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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