PRUDEN: Oh, woe is us: A new year ahead

Written by an unbiased true American. To-Hell with the begrudgers. We only know one thing when we go so low we only bounce higher. Its not about being rich we already made the banking system fundeamentally sound with $700Bill. It's about getting the money in the other guy's account and depositing the funds into yours. Have you heard about the big strong man. He thought he'd take a trip to old New York and he swam like a man made of cork he saw the Lucitania in distress he put the Lucitania on his chest , drank all the water in the sea and he walked all the way to Italy. I will always be eternally humbled in grateful thanks by the depth of love, heart, and sacrifice to lift this world into a better way of life for all. " No greater thing a Man can do than to lay down his life for his brother". This to me is the power of the great Nation of America we love. This is what I think makes America fundamentally sound. Happiness is the shadow of love when God is our only reality. Mine eyes have seen the Glory. From sea to shining sea. Americans don't do things right. They do the right thing. Thanks Mr Pruden. Good Job. Its my blood type "B POSITIVE"

Considering fairly recent history, this new doom & gloom isn't new at all. Consider Carter's years as president. He was Mr. "we're all gonna die" in chief. Then Reagan took charge and the funk that the nation was in was quickly reversed. This, to the horror of the media types who despised America and had kept despair going as their well paying proposition. With Reagan we had the boiler fire referred to lit and were just fine. Thank you Mr. Reagan. The press sooo hated that good man. Give us a real Statesman to show the way and then move aside to let the engine roll and We'll be just fine. Down with "Carterism" and the "progressives" (not hardly) love affair with it. My one worry? Obama sounds too much like little Jimmy.

Pruden - you are bad for America and a complete idiot, I can't believe they publish you at this fine newspaper

As usual, this is top-of-the-line writing. Thank you, Mr. Pruden and Happy New Year.

Pruden is right that America is far from finished. We've got excellent assets in our people, our industry, and our natural resources. But I think that, as a nation, we are in a time when we can allow our nation's past successes to deceive us from taking a very hard look at where we're going. In not doing so, many citizens are under the misguided impression that anybody can be our leaders, regardless of lack of experience or character. In not doing so, many can be misled into thinking that any social engineering policy, growth in federal government power, or indefinite heavy deficit spending can be adopted or continued without negative longterm consequences. In other words, like other great nations before us, we can push our luck too far to a point of no return. Until then, Happy New Year.

Shudup, Pruden. Who cares what the hell you think?

I think the United States is devolving into a third world nation. Gonna be tough to stop that from happening.

this is one man who cares what pruden thinks.....so dont shudup... as for FDR, he told us in his last inaugural, after normandy and the bulge, that this war has taught Americans to be men and not ostriches..... and today we certainly have enough enemies providing ample opportunity for doing the right thing....

I enjoy reading the comments of an obviously intelligent person like Mr. Pruden. What I don't understand is why so many liberal morons rush to make even bigger idiots of themselves by sending in their poorly written remarks. It is clear that they are way too stupid to understand him, much less even make an intelligent remark. Perhaps these cretins just need to do something besides drink beer and throw up in the street.

Americans are still working. Over 90% of us. Work is slow for some, but we're still working. We still haven't hit the double-digit unemployment or inflation that existed under the Carter Administration (Democrat 1976-1980), and they're calling it the worst economy since the 1930's? Democrats are the masters of crisis. Albert Gore discovered during the Clinton Administration that crisis make news, and the more concerned voters are the more likely they are to vote. At one point during the Clinton Administration, they had claimed so many crisis that Gore was able to claim a brand new crisis: a "crisis crisis". "Everything that should be up, is down, and everything that should be down, is up" he declared. Obama needs low expectations by the bucket load, its the surest way to make himself appear brilliantly successful when the resilient American economy bounces back (as it always does.)

Speaking of optimism or the lack of it in the media, after posting a comment (below) for some odd reason I began thinking of Grit, the weekly newspaper. After a search I found the wikipedia history of Grit. Therein, was the editors formula of success, if only the New York Times had followed this time tested creed, perhaps they wouldn't be floundering: "Always keep Grit from being pessimistic. Avoid printing those things which distort the minds of readers or make them feel at odds with the world. Avoid showing the wrong side of things, or making people feel discontented. Do nothing that will encourage fear, worry or temptation... Wherever possible, suggest peace and good will toward men. Give our readers courage and strength for their daily tasks. Put happy thoughts, cheer and contentment into their hearts."--Dietrick Lamade (1859 - 1938) I once sold this paper as a young boy, door-to-door.