Yes, the World is Getting Better. Here's Why.

Reason TV sets out to cheer up doomsayers in Venice Beach, armed with evidence of positive trends across the globe.

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A CNN poll earlier this year found that a majority of Americans are pessimistic about the future of the country. That’s consistent with prior polling, which discovered that more people than not believe that the next generation will be worse off than their own. What worries underpin the average person’s pessimism, and are they legitimate? Are we indeed living in a time of unprecedented and impending doom?

Reason TV ventured out to the Venice Beach boardwalk to speak with folks from all walks of life about their feelings about the future, with the goal of cheering up the doomsayers. But maybe it was the pleasant beachside atmosphere or the fact that they were on camera, but at first, most people actually told us they feel a sense of optimism about the future.

It only took a little digging into the issues, however, to uncover the seeds of pessimism, many referencing one particularly orange presidential candidate. So we pointed out some statistics and success stories that should give even the most hardened pessimist some hope for a better future. (Watch the video above to see what California Venetians had to say.)

About 8 minutes.

Produced by Zach Weissmueller and Justin Monticello. Hosted by Weissmueller. Camera by Monticello and Weissmueller. Additional graphics by Joshua Swain.

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