Some thoughts from the Economic Survey:

Arthur,

Thanks for the note. Working as a member of the Wholesale/Retail sector of the economy and seeing first hand the weak demand that consumers are producing on a monthly basis, I'd have to agree with David Axelrod's assessment; "We haven't broken the back of the recession". We're still laying off 500,000 + folks on a monthly basis. The Stimulus has helped stabilize the Financial markets and has provided relief to those suffering in the Mortgage Meltdown but millions of Americans have seen their retirement programs de-value by as much as 45-50%. While the Stock Market has improved slightly, By comparison to LY (historic highs), we will need time and patience before we see both the recession and the value of our Investments recover to the point where they exceed previous high water marks. It may take years. I've told you nothing new here.

The "experts" tell us that the difference with being okay about one's financial status and not is a job. For those who lost a job, the recession is a depression. For those of us with one, we'll cut spending and still feel okay. Recessions are personal. Clearly people respond that way. I take heart in the response to question Number 5  below. 87% say the country is not better off than 4 years ago. That's a significant statement from a statistically significant sample and...they're right.

Bottom line ; I'm still not okay that others are hurting and that has impacted my life also. Not to the degree they have been impacted, but impacted none the less.

It appears that your research is spot on. The fact that you've shared this with the next generation making them think thru how it is that we can improve is invaluable.

Well Done, take a bow. Keep fighting. We have miles to go, miles before we have fixed our current problems.

I've shared with both Family and friends how much I respect the Greatest Generation, the one that preceded us. They rose above the Depression, conquered the evil doers that made WW2, returned home to build the Suburbs and presided over the world wide expansion of the Global economy. They raised us. How could you not be impressed?

We belong to the "Me" Generation. We look at the world differently, every Generation does. We view it though our navel, how the world impacts us. "Am I better off" is just an example. Our hallmark achievement is consumption. If it can be purchased, well do it so to speak. We want convenience, we want access, we want efficiency. Give me what I want in real time, no waiting thank you very much. Not much of a legacy is it?

We're at a crossroads however. Our World is finally at a point where we can't go onward as we have in the past. Our challenge, should we be up to it is; How do we make our world more Green preserving the Planet and sustaining it? How do we meet our energy needs so that our economy flourishes while maintaining earthly resources? How do we cover 50 million Americans lacking simple affordable Healthcare and in the process also make it more transparent, less costly, restoring patient care as the priority? How do we lead the world without be threatened by the rise of other Nations? How do we conquer self interest in the name of the greater good? I think we take a page from the old school book, from the Greatest Generation.

I think the answer is that we solve the problems. The time is now. Our Legacy will be determined in the next 8-10 years. To fail is to hand over a diminished world to the Millennial Generation, our children, the young adults you work with everyday. Tell em Arthur, we're going to fix it . It's my hope that shortly we'll say: We're okay.

Dan