Democratic doomsayers

To hear most of the Democratic presidential candidates is to wonder if their role model growing up was Chicken Little.

In a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity, arguably at the height of America’s power and inarguably at the height of her wealth, they all yell that the sky is falling, while demanding radical solutions to protect the nation from the dragons in their minds.

Sen. Bernie Sanders asserted in Tuesday night’s debate a need to “transform our economy and our government.” Bill de Blasio went further, calling on his listeners to “restructure society” itself, starting by “tax[ing] the hell out of the wealthy.” Spiritualist Marianne Williamson said, “the NRA has us in a choke hold, but so do the pharmaceutical companies, so do the health insurance companies, so do the fossil fuel companies, and so do the defense contractors.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren agreed: “Giant corporations … have taken our government and are holding it by the throat.”

Now put these alarmist comments into context. The nation’s unemployment rate has been at or below 4% for 16 consecutive months, the lowest in half a century. Wages have been rising steadily for seven years. Inflation remains below 2%. Inflation in health-related prices is below even the core inflation rate. The stock market is reaching record highs each month. The poverty rate is at or near historic lows, as are rates of violent crime.

These good numbers don’t even account for the much higher rise in actual standard of living and discretionary leisure time enjoyed in America today.

Abroad, meanwhile, we are at peace. The grand total of fewer than 17,000 troops in even semi-hot, bullets-flying war zones is quite low, and combat fatalities are averaging fewer per year than they averaged per day for most years in Vietnam.

Yet Democratic candidates talk as if America is a dystopian wasteland straight out of science fiction. Marianne Williamson said there is a “dark underbelly of American society,” a “dark psychic force of the collectivized hatred that this president is bringing up.“

“We have deep wounds and seriously deeply rooted challenges in the United States,” said Cory Booker. It’s “an inflection moment in the history of our country,” said Kamala Harris.

Meanwhile, the planet is dying so quickly, we’re told, that perhaps it’s a mistake to contribute to your 401(k). “Our country is running out of time” and is “already in a crisis,” said South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. “Science tells us we have 12 years before we reach the horizon of catastrophe when it comes to our climate.”

Warren cited “an existential crisis for our world.” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said “the people in this room and the Democrats watching tonight are the last best hope for humanity on this planet.”

Of course, President Trump is making things far, far worse, don’t you know. Kirsten Gillibrand said that “Donald Trump has really torn apart the moral fabric of this country, dividing us on every racial line, every religious line, every socioeconomic line he can find.”

Harris went further: “[W]e have a predator living in the White House. We’ve got a person who has put babies in cages and separated children from their parents.”

Again with the threat of worldwide annihilation, Tulsi Gabbard said that Trump is “starting a new Cold War” and “pushing us closer and closer to the brink of nuclear catastrophe.”

One more year of this, and the sky won’t be falling. It will be imploding as the heavens and earth collapse to their foundations…unless, of course, we elect a Democrat!

Then all will be well. The earth will survive. Peace, love, and socialized medicine will reign, no matter how much chicken feed it costs.

So, if we reject this utterly laughable and ridiculous narrative, does it make us cynics? Or optimists? No, just realists, ordinary people with a sense of perspective, and no personal advantage in lament that the end is nigh.