Where's the Optimism?

How far have we fallen? I'd argue the success of the Left is in their ability to make us believe the worst. Everything has become a crisis. Whether AGW (Alleged Global Warming), the Alleged Peak Oil, or the recession (allegedly the worst economy since the Great Depression).

What has happened to the optimism that made America great? The people of this country always believed their best days were ahead. Now this? What is more disturbing than the article itself are the comments. Somehow it's virtuous for the United States to become a third-world nation? I got news. NO, IT'S NOT!

I'm told consumerism is bad. I'd argue that American consumerism is the great equalizer. Europe and Japan relied on American largess and consumerism to rebuild after WWII. Without American consumerism, places like Taiwan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, even China have nothing. Zip, zilch, nada. American dollars have fueled world economic growth for nearly a century. Without American wealth, there is no charity. There is no disaster assistance. The United Nations has no money (not necessarily a bad thing).

The current economy is, in many ways psychological. Herd mentality. A large part of the way out is our leaders telling us everything will be ok. It may take time, it may take work, but "all we have to fear, is fear itself". "America's best days are ahead".