Back in the 1970s, you had the end of the disaster called Vietnam, runaway inflation, Watergate, rising crime, energy shortages, a lopsided misery Index, an advancing Soviet Union, two very unimpressive presidents back to back, the GOP at rock bottom, and economic decline. Americans were convinced that America was finished. Polls taken at the time stated that Americans believed it’s best days have long past.
However, there was somebody who did not believe that. He won two landslide victories. Americans mood was a lot different by 1984 than it was in 1979
I am not pessimistic. In fact, I am optimistic. At some point, all of this will switch. But we will have to go through a mess in the short term.