It’s the same ideology that says progressivism is dead, despite that today’s yellow journalism is watered down, there’s no traditional war between organized countries, sanitation’s up, and we’re getting further along with promoting resource equality in LDCs.

Not only that, but there’s complete ennui in living. I can go out in most parts of the world at night without worry of being beaten, killed or enslaved; the corner market to get fresh broccoli in winter. All of the programmers I know want to buy a house, settle down, and work an unpleasant job in an unfriendly country, when the internet allows any of us to pick up and move and still work.

Welcome to the age of pessimism and cynicism. Also, bedbugs. Just because America is sliding doesn’t mean the world is doomed.