It's very easy (I find myself doing it too) to look at all of the lazy, incompetent, corrupt people around you including politicians, every sector of business, all sectors of government and everyday Joe Sixpacks........and think these people are f*cking it up.
That leads you to think all of these systems cannot possibly be functioning in a productive manner and will inevitably come crumbling down.
This mindset will make you want to short practically everything (or long gold).
Just look around at our world leaders. They are laughable. Look only at the POTUS or the guys who were very close to winning that office recently. Bush, Obama, McCain, Gore, Kerry, Hillary..... these people are all less than impressive, IMO and yet are leading the free world. It can be easy to fall into that pessimistic trap, IMO.