This is a thoughtful, balanced piece at a time when that sort of journalism on this topic is very important. The author provides sufficient evidence and information to substantiate his claims, and writes in a style that is accessible. Based on the title I feared the author was going to present a rosy scenario. Instead...both skeptics and optimists get their say and the reader is left with a sense that the reality while uncertain is perhaps not as bleak as recent news stories would indicate.

Is this an accurate count of the economic future or the Wall Street equivalent of whistling past the grave yard? Or is Wall Street completly seperated from individual economics? The account seems to be an accurate report of the market, but that does not mean an accurate prediction of market direction.

Bad news for the partisan Times - the stock market is doing well.