There are several advantages to despair (or pessimism). I know we live in a world where optimism is glorified, but...

1. If you are a pessimist, you are only bound to have good surprises ;)

2. Hedging for disaster sometimes is a good idea. Disaster happens. If we accept cyclical views of history (I do), winter happens.

3. While I do not want to discourage anyone to think and put forward solutions, the truth is that most of the time they are completely ignored. Especially in our case where our "power base" is out of power. For instance, think of the 2007/2008 crisis: Policy decisions have varied between bad and worse.

4. Some energy should be put on worse case scenarios: Unemployment, social disruption, supply chain disruption (no food on the shelves). Some of these problems are happening RIGHT NOW.

5. If the political process is broken, then there are other avenues: individual preparations, family, local community.

I actually believe that any nice solution to the future is being incepted now, in the borders of standard political practice. In my case I suggest that the transition movement is a good example, but it might come from other places. I doubt it will be from standard institutional arrangements and standard political practice.