Yet you call the left "pessimists". What do you think we're trying to do?

I don't think you're a pessimist either. Good Lord, what on Earth would a pessimist be doing in your line of work?

Look at where I started this thread. I had specific examples. Note I even excluded Raoul. Damn few space nuts are pessimists either.

If you want it boiled down, not all leftists are pessimists, not by a long shot. Particularly the old-school liberals. But almost all non-religious apocalypse hounds seem to have their roots in socialist sour grapes.

On pessimism in general, unrelated to their other views: One sure sign is watching how someone responds to good news. Someone who is simply discouraged will leap on it. A real pessimist, or someone who resents success, will try to discredit it, or turn it into bad news.