The Economy

Economic statistical data show that the U.S. economy is extremely strong and growing. Reportedly, 215,000 jobs were added in November and the GDP was just revised upward to 4.3%, a number of other things appear to be improving. This is amazing considering the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, which caused a spike in unemployment in the Gulf States and reduced our oil refining capacity. This natural disaster, coupled with the precipitous increase in gas prices, was widely expected to adversely impact the economy. I'm thankful that our economy is strong because it means more people are working and being afforded opportunities to improve their standard of living.

Johah Goldberg @ The Corner sees a more far-reaching impact.

One point that doesn't get enough play is that [the] US economy is keeping the world afloat. We do hear this fact fairly often, but it's always couched in bad news rhetoric, particularly in terms of trade with China. But the reality is the Japanese economy is only now (maybe, sorta) emerging from decades of suckiness. We create more jobs by accident than all the industrial planners in Europe have been able to create in years of hard strategizing around mahogany tables festooned with clever cheese. Everyone likes to gripe about American capitalism, but if it weren't for American capitalism the Frenchies would be eating Hamburger Helper a couple times a week and millions more Third Worlders would be in total poverty.