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It is not hard to see that many in the United States are hurting. That is undeniable. With fuel prices and food prices at all-time highs, the auto and housing markets in a severe slump, it has been a tough year.

We've been told about how bad the economy is. We've all heard about the recession the United States is in and how terrible the next few years could be.

It may be hard to understand it, but that is wrong. Yes, consumer confidence is very low. There's no doubt about that. But in order for the country to officially be considered in a recession, certain conditions must be met, by definition.

We don't like the fact that gas prices are so high. We aren't buying as many gas guzzling vehicles because of that. And because Detroit took so long to get the message, it is suffering.

We don't like that food prices are increasing at rates most Americans have never experienced (but that are not uncommon in many other countries).

Nobody likes it when they have less disposable income. Who would?

But less disposable income is not the measure of a recession.

Recessions only occur when we've had two consecutive quarters of lower GDP.

So far, you know how many quarters we've had? Zero.

That means, not only are we not in a recession right now, we will not be in a recession, officially, at least for another half year, if then.

By then, we'll have a new president and we can blame him for a recession, if there is to be one at all.

That said, when McCain's economic advisor, Phil Gramm, said Americans were nothing but whiners, he went too far. He would have been well-advised to stick with his expert analysis of the economy, and left the editorial comments to someone who could be a little more diplomatic. Calling Americans, the people who will be voting for your candidate, a bunch of whiners is not necessarily the best way to win friends and influence people.

As a journalist, I know exactly what this is like. I am always amazed by people who first insult me, then want me to do something for them, and believe I will just because they insulted me. It just doesn't work like that.

But it is easy to understand his frustration, given the daily barrage of information many media sources are spouting.

It's like the old saying: If you say something long enough and repeat it often enough, it becomes the truth, whether or not it really is the truth.

If you hear the economy is in the tank long enough, that becomes a fact in your mind, especially if you are not actually willing to investigate the facts for yourself.
And of course, most Americans are not willing to do that. Perhaps they are too trusting. Perhaps they are too lazy. Who knows?

If you've lost your job, then yes, you have something to worry about. That hurts a lot and no one is making light of that pain.

But the nation, as a whole, is plugging along with a growing economy - for the time being.

Learn more about this author, Kenneth Black.
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