I think your idea that we're all optimistic is not quite right though. Many of us are seriously scared of how much damage will be inflicted on us before we have the ability to take charge and fix things. We're concerned that when we do finally acquire some economic stability and enough political clout to really control things, we will be at war with half the world, in debt well past our ability to do anything other than default, and so affected by global warming and other environmental damage that the other problems won't matter.