And the Good News Is ...

[Gerald]

Finally, we’re coming to a consensus about what’s wrong with the economy. It’s us. And our bad attitude.

Ben Bernanke says we’re too depressed. On Thursday, the Fed chairman suggested that consumers have an irrationally negative worldview.

“Even taking into account the many financial pressures that they face, households seem exceptionally cautious,” he told an audience in Minnesota, where the Twins are in last place, attendance at the state fair was way down and the state’s best-known elected official is Michele Bachmann. Also, star hockey player Dustin Byfuglien was arrested on Lake Minnetonka on suspicion of boating while intoxicated.

Meanwhile overseas, Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, expressed concern that “the world is collectively suffering from a crisis of confidence.” Which is not helped by the fact that nobody can hear the words “International Monetary Fund” without thinking sleazy French pol in a hotel room with the maid.

On Friday, President Obama told Americans to “shake off all the naysaying and the anxiety and the hand-wringing.” He is on the road, following up on the big jobs speech he gave before Congress. It got a pretty good reaction, which would probably have been even more positive if the television broadcasts had not been interspersed with reports that Homeland Security was searching for a trio of terrorist truckers.

The president is urging people to contact their elected representatives and tell them to pass his proposals: “I want you to call. I want you to e-mail. I want you to tweet. I want you to fax. I want you to visit. I want you to Facebook ... Send a carrier pigeon.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/10/op...mv&ref=general


Note: September 9, 2011