Hey Glenn,
There is reason to be “optimistic” but only if you can accept the reality of full planetary overshoot and systemic collapse. (Not a typical definition of optimism, more accurate to say we are realistic and we take scientific research seriously). The majority of US citizens are not going to get it. They are part of the most destructive cultural life form humanity has ever manifested — and that extractive, consumer-market economy is self-destructive.
The regenerative models are being seeded in 10,000+ places to compost the dominant systems as they die and grow into their replacements. If you’d like to join us to learn how we can create these conditions together, I invite you to join the Earth Regenerators study group set up for this purpose.