Looking at the future, it's incredibly bleak. Self-talk positivity might have its place but it's no more rational than pessimism (and arguably less).

The best case scenario is that the left builds local and then state power over the next 20-30 years, grabbing a few more House seats here and there, and maybe then becomes a real force in national politics. (20-30 is... generous.) Thing is... there might not be a civil American society as we know it to save by then. We're past the tipping point on climate change already - a generation ahead, we're past the tipping point on food riots and wars over potable water.