Optimists always have the last laugh
April 10, 2008
Johnson states that too many in the West are obsessed with decline and doom. Whereas in nations such as China, Brazil and India most people have much worse living standards, but they often seem happier and more confident about tomorrow.
I agree with his observation. I have made similar comments some time ago (Fear paralyses and hope inspires). Johnson is right to conclude that thanks to technology and capitalism we live longer, healthier and safer. Humankind indeed makes progress because some people believe in a great future. Inventors, entrepreneurs and optimists initiate advances that create jobs and improve our welfare. Johnson concludes: "Optimists have the last laugh -history shows they are always the long-run winners."
Some may argue that there is a lot of misery in the world, that zillions of people live in depressing circumstances and have little to agree with his plea for optimism. (This is the kind of reasoning that characterises a pretty vocal part of the sustainability community). But especially to those people I would say that optimism and hope are crucial conditions for making progress. Negativism and fear will not improve life for anybody. So; because optimists have the last laugh, more people will be laughing in the long run. Thank you Mr Johnson for this optimistic view in a newspaper that covered plenty of doom yesterday.
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