JohnInKansas: I applaud the charitable impulse in the saying you recite, but I regret to say that in my observation it is based on a false dichotomy. Stupidity & malice are often intimately related. In particular, frightened people favor the kinds of stupidity that are helpful in being mean.

On topic, I recommend
http://books.google.com/books?id=hy47AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq=%22the+cult+of+hope%22&source=bl&ots=DeBDfkb5nA&sig=r66oi-00ej1K3qGeKhvs8UBEovA&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ynPTUZ2GOI_k4AOW1IGIBQ&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22the%20cult%20of%20hope%22&f=false