The question goes beyond whether the glass is half full or half empty.

The bet by some is to not only appeal to the worse side of human nature, but also incite the worse, fear and hate, in human nature.

This tactic and the antics that go also with the pessimism and fear in hate feels more powerful because of its ability to hurt and cause harm not just by casting stones, but also using force, coercion and other means and weapons of destructive power.

However, tripping on power to destroy in fear, hate and ultimately autocratic ignorance is not fellowship, enlightenment, wisdom, peace or prosperity.  

Overtime exploitations, abusive harm and illicit activities will erode away any credibility and standing with the world as legalities are ignored in favor of abuse of power, personal and political gains to do whatever in want and desires and to get away with it.

And as in any ponzi scheme, investors paying into the big lie will initially see some return, but it will not be sustainable as monies are drained and bled dry.  

Let's take Russia for example.  

The propaganda there is that Russia is a superpower and that their army, military and weaponry are invincible which make them comparable to that of the United States; therefore, Russia would conquer Ukraine in three days.  

After half a million soldiers dead and over two years, Russia is no closer to conquering Ukraine.

Russian citizens can buy into Russian propaganda and believe all the lies told to them and feel powerful as a "superpower". However, the reality is a vastly different story and the Dominoes will fall in accordance to reality not lies.  

The people can be sold on lies and trip on power trips to harm like a terrorist or monster, but processes away from actual intelligence and integrity only brings ignorance and destructive harm, not peace and prosperity.  

To imagine the Russian people as prosperous while subsisting on less than $800 a month and Russia a superpower with less GDP than most countries in Europe is unrealistic and the furthest from the truth.  

If the United States chooses to operate like Russia, silence all critics and corrupt intelligence and integrity for propaganda and lies then it will end up like Russia without the necessary mechanisms for innovation and credibility and standing with the rest of the world for power.  

The question is whether we want to end up like the people of Russia.