To listen to some of the talk on the presidential campaign trail, one would think that America’s best days are behind it. Candidates on the left and right have hit a nerve with voters by playing on their frustrations and fears over, among other issues, income inequality and terrorism.

It’s true that millions of people are still struggling in the wake of the Great Recession. It’s true, too, that the threat of terrorism is real. America has many problems that can be traced to politicians who seem unresponsive to the interests of citizens.