Grateful Doug - 12/01/09

Some of the wonderful things for which I am thankful.

What a year this has been! As we move into December and toward the Christmas / holiday season, I can think of so many things for which I am thankful. Here are some of those wonderful things:

That ShopperTrak and the other retail associations are calling for strong holiday sales.
That the National Association of Realtors is calling for a recovery in the housing market in 2010, one in which housing activity and home prices will be lifted.
That the Obama administration is in favor of a strong dollar.
That the Treasury is in favor of a strong dollar.
That my dollar now buys more than it used to and I am wealthier.
That the government's stress test nailed it at 8.1% base case unemployment.
That U.S. corporations will soon be hiring and spending tons on capital expenditures because of a large earnings recovery next year.
That the stimulus package turned the economy around and added permanent value to society without adding to our debt burden.
That this downturn cleansed all the structural problems in the world and that there is a sustainable foundation from which to grow.
That there is an exit strategy in place.
That nobody is falling for the politician's tricks of blaming Wall Street for all the world's problems.
That I can go to an underwater hotel in DooBye.
That the politicians have figured out that although putting people in homes buys votes, it is really bad for the economy.
That government economic statistics are precise and accurate.