While reading the editorial page of one of our state newspapers recently, I came across two completely different articles regarding the current state of the US economy, and specifically whether or not our economy is on the way out of the recession. I found myself re-reading each article over & over, trying to determine who had made the best argument for their respective positions.

   Each contributor had laid out very specific reasons, including a multitude of “data” to substantiate his position as to whether we were “still in the funk”, or “on the way up” (feel free to interject your own personal descriptions for either position). And though I felt as though both contributors had made compelling points in their arguments, I couldn’t help but feel that neither had managed to tell me what I really wanted to know – ARE we coming out the recession, or aren’t we??

   Finally, I determined that despite all the facts, data and examples, neither was able to produce a convincing case – in spite of their “mastery” of the written English language. And so I the reader, was left to make up my own mind as to the current state of the economy. I had been given a tremendous number of words to assist me in my endeavor, but it would be up to ME to take those words, and come to some sort of conclusion that I could live with. Did these two writers fail me with their writing? No, on the contrary. Each had presented me with enough information to allow me to begin formulating my OWN ideas about the economy, and consequently, which direction I happened to be believe it was moving in.

   And so, once again I was forced to do what we often do when presented with a complicated position - we absorb the information, and then process it with what we already know & believe. So to what conclusion did I ultimately arrive? Hmmm.... Well this much is certain, if the “experts” can’t agree on whether or not the recession is ending, there’s no way the rest of us can make that determination. One thing I DO know – there’s still a lot of Americans hurting, and no one can deny that. If the recession being “over” means no one is suffering, then we’ve got a LONG way to go!