No wonder our leaders have gotten along so well in modern history (U.S.)

What is happening in these modern democracies that has led to this sick embrace of cruelty, pessimism ,and apathy?

It really feels like pessimism is the rot or maybe anti-optimism; how can things ever get better if the culture rejects the idea that better things are possible?

Better things are possible, very difficult, and extremely necessary. Fight for it.