Positive things like terrorists moving out, economy moving up, American troops moving forward, and gas prices and Desperats' poll numbers moving down... Good news is the proverbial elephant in the living room these days. Fortunately, most Americans still exercise their right to choose seeing much more of it.
First our exceptional economy.
- Tuesday, after day of heavy trading, the most-watched stock index closed higher than it ever has before. Traders rang in Tuesday riding a rally and hoping for more and they got it.
The Dow Jones average hit an all-time high. The record close of the blue-chip index gives a lift to 401k's, IRA's, and their owners.
"So, they all got a raise today in their retirement outlook. And it creates a very positive feeling. And those ripples will continue to make a difference in the economy," local stock watcher L.H. Bayley with David A. Noyes and Co. said.
Bayley sees additional significance in returning to numbers not reached since pre- 9/11.
"We have learned to live with terrorism. We have learned not to be terrorized by events throughout the world," Bayley said.
Oil prices continue to drive the positive numbers. Per-barrel prices are down $20 from their harrowing heights three months ago.
Like our country, our economy is so huge and dynamically vibrant that its tremendous strengths lift up weaknesses in any categorical sector or geographical piece of it and make them only temporary. That's why all the last half-decade's talk of a housing bubble has been just that: all talk. From
San Jose to
Colorado Springs to the
entire Northeast, more people from all walks of life own their own homes
than ever before. Two out of three Americans, in fact. Because our employment rate is
historically high, rates of mortgage foreclosure and delinquencies are still low in historic terms.
The majority of Americans are stock owners, too, either directly or though their mutual funds or 401k plans. Which is another reason to celebrate Dow Jones' record close.
- "But make no mistake about it, this is very positive news at minimum from a psychological standpoint as investors are looking at the state of the economy," Gerry Dick with Inside Indiana Business said.
So good is the state of our economy that even the
Washington Post had to report it, as the paper did last June with
"And Now For Some Good News,"- The American economy is the strongest in the world and growing faster than that of any other major industrialized country. It grew at an annual rate of 5.3 percent in the first quarter — the fastest growth in 2 1/2 years. It has added more than 5.3 million jobs since the summer of 2003, and employment is near an all-time high. The unemployment rate (4.6 percent) is well below the average for each of the past four decades. Mortgage rates remain near historical lows, homeownership remains near a record high, and sales of new and existing homes reached record levels in 2005. Real disposable personal income has risen almost 13 percent since President Bush took office; and core inflation rose just 2.3 percent over the past 12 months. The Dow Jones industrial average has risen from under 7300 in 2002 to above 11,000 for most of this year. Tax revenues are at an all-time high — and so is total household net worth.
Next, our winning the World War. In addition to making sure America's economy keeps moving up, we're defeating the plans of islamo-imperialists and muslim mass-murderers at every turn. Along every front we have them on the run. We're advancing against all their positions, dislodging them, kicking them out, and reducing their leaders' capabilities to nothing more than making blusterous videos that convince no one, not even themselves.
For the first time in many Afghanis and Iraqis' lives, they have the right to freely choose their own form of government and its leaders. A consistently greater percentage of them have done so since the liberation of their countries from oppresive regimes than we usually do in this country. In Iraq our combined forces have decimated al-Qaeda's leadership from the very top on down. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is unifying his government and the Iraqi people against Iran's latch-ditch, desperate attempt to foment violence, destabilize the country, and impede its progress. In Afghanistan we're helping the people rebuild their country from the aftermath of decades of wars. An effort that is earning us their trust as well as discrediting any Taliban remnants. Allies like Japan, which has again extended its support in Afghanistan, are also helping this effort. Meanwhile, there's palpable friction between al-Qaeda's senior leadership and its field commanders.
Why are we winning? The answer is simple: We stand on the side of goodness and freedom. Our broken enemy brings only death and oppression. The words of one of our Soldiers say it much better than any of mine ever could:
- I am just a soldier who finds himself helping rebuild a country that he helped liberate a couple years ago. I have watched on television how the American public questions why their mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters are fighting and dying in a country 9000 miles away from their own soil. Take the word of a soldier, for that is all I am, that our cause is a noble one. The reason we are here is one worth fighting for. A cause that has been the most costly and sought after cause in our small span of existence on our little planet. Bought in blood and paid for by those brave enough to give the ultimate sacrifice to obtain it. A right that is given to every man, woman, and child I believe by God. I am talking of freedom.
Freedom. One word but yet countless words could never capture it's true meaning or power. "For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know." I read that once and it couldn't be more true. It's not the average American's fault that he or she is "blind and deaf" to the taste of freedom. Most American's are born into their God given right so it is all they ever know. I was once one of them. I would even dare to say that it isn't surprising that they take for granted what they have had all their life. My experiences in the military however opened my eyes to the truth.
Ironically you will find the biggest outcries of opposition to our cause from those who have had no military experience and haven't had to fight for freedom. I challenge all of those who are daring enough to question such a noble cause to come here for just a month and see it first hand.
– SGT Walter J. Rausch
101st Airborne Division
Despite what the always-negative, bait-and-switching Demudslingerats say, we're starting from a position of remarkable strength. As we progress and move on to tackle whatever challenges still lay ahead of us, such strength ensures that we're not only able to face them head on but will assuredly overcome them.
This is good news. It makes me even more proud to be an American. A proud citizen of the greatest country on Earth whose right to vote has been paid for in full by every drop of blood our Troops shed on the battlefield in this World War. When I enter that polling booth next month I do so out of respect for their memories, to honor their sacrifices, and as a very real act of that freedom they're so ably defending. As they do over there with their far greater valor and all too common uncommon acts of bravery, I fight back here for our country's victory with what each of those makes possible: my votes.
That's what I'm voting for this November.
Victory at Home and Abroad 2006
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