The Old Man and the Young One
Old Man: Things were better in my day.
Young One: Ha! Back then you had wars, disease, starvation, inequality, racism, pollution, crime, and corruption!
Old Man: Yes, we did. What's your point?
Young One: Today we ... (realises nothing has changed). Anyway, what was so good about it?
Old Man: In my day we had hope for a better future.
Hunter S. Thompson: And that, I think, was the handle - that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of old and evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn't need that. Our energy would simply prevail. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave.