Things are better than they were 50 years ago for a lot of people nowadays. It's hard to see that with all the evil this administration has done.
Deafeatism won't help. Vote in primaries or start your own progressive party.
It's easy to destroy, and hard to build. Also, the repubs have all three power structures right now, so of course it's easier for them to get away with the murder they've been committing.
Not apologizing for the centrist bullshit the Democratic party has pulled, just adding additional perspective.