I am pessimistic. Too many governments are not serving the people but only fighting hard to exist so those at the top can steal more from the people. Leaders, their friends and extended family members don't get to be billionaires doing the peoples' work. You know who you are, East and West.

Add in the electronic surveillance and reduction of free speech, movement, assembly and self-determination and we have completely lost the greatest ideals and growth drivers of civilization. The sheeple are being turned into the batteries depicted in the Matrix movie, nothing more. In this case, to serve the financial "masters" who hold debt for houses, cars, education, etc. over our heads and otherwise let government perpetuate their crimes in the shadows.