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Report on nation’s mood raises questions

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The front page of CNN this morning says the mood of the nation is at a six-year high. 

“As the stock market continues to show record highs, the number of Americans who say things are going well in the country has reached 50 percent for the first time in more than six years,” the article read.

Do tell me, CNN, about how high the mood of our nation is. Given that 50 percent of the populous thinks everything is fine and dandy, I’m intrigued.

“But that doesn’t mean the country is entirely out of the woods yet. The CNN/ORC International poll released Friday indicates that an equal 50 percent say the country is in bad shape.”

So half think everything is awesome, and half think everything is less than awesome. Holla’ at cha’ boy, Captain Obvious. 

The article goes on to to saythat hiring “slowed sharply” in March. How does something slow sharply? Seriously, that’s like saying, “The war in Afghanistan has ended soon,” or “Lawyers only lie always.”

OK, CNN, what else you got?

“Breaking down the new 50-percent number further, senior citizens and rural Americans are least likely to give a thumbs-up to current conditions. Those between 18 and 34 are most likely to be optimistic, with 60 percent things going well.”

Yea, I know. “With 60-percent things going well.” Sigh.

And not to be a total “grammar Nazi” here, but the figure is new, not the number. I’m fairly certain the term “half” has been around for a while.

Now, I don’t want to knock on CNN too hard as they are my go-to news source, but I don’t think our country is awesome right now. And, to be fair, 80 percent of the country thought things were horrible just a few years ago.

However, we’ve been at war for the majority of my life, and an increasing number of my friends are coming back with physical and mental wounds they’ll have to deal with for the rest of their lives. In many cases, they’re not coming back at all. The article also mentions that 500,000 people dropped out of the labor market, but doesn’t specify the timeframe. Let me say that again — half a million people (half the population of Montana) literally stopped trying to find work because things are so awesome in our country right now. 

I’ve got a realist streak in my personality, which means that I believe the first step to solving a problem is recognizing there is one. We have a lot of problems, and as anyone who’s ever overcome a problem will tell you, they don’t solve themselves. 

Turning a blind eye or descending into the pit of willful ignorance will only serve to make things worse. Problem-solving takes hard work, clear thinking and intelligence — that’s how you win any battle. 

Now go change the world.

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