I understand what you are saying, but please examine how unhappy they really are & why.
Their “higher opinion of themselves” is a construct, a mask, a put-on that they wear for others.
Their leftist implementations produce a suffering reality that only they can ignore.
Scratch the thin veneer of hubris, you will find self loathing.
While I'm sure this is true of some leftists, the majority I believe view themselves as "the annointed," in Sowell's terminology, smart enough and good enough to make the world a better place. IOW, they see themselves as gods.
As I said before, I know of no group in history with a higher opinion of itself than American leftists hold. The high self-esteem is based on their hatred for the society that supports them.
IOW, they loathe America but love themselves, largely because they loathe America. This is the key recognition signal. The more you hate America, the better person you are.