After years of taking a pounding, America’s farmers are seeing significant gains in exports of their products. The only downside of this for America is that it will drive up the cost for these same products domestically.

http://www.freshplaza.com/news_detail.asp?id=17876

The markets are up over 11% in the past two weeks, and many analysts are picking up on the sweet sound of good news.  More positive rhetoric is coming from Henry Paulson, and many feel we’re closer to getting out of this, than getting further into it.

As the stimulus checks begin to arrive, money will be spent, this you can guarantee.  The reason is simple, as I’ve commented in this blog many times, we are a nation of consumers.  This era of consumerism I think started back in the 80′s and continues today.  We want our “stuff” and we want it NOW.  I don’t know how well this bodes for my generations when we get to retirement age (I’m 43).  But for now, most of us work hard, and want to see fruits from our labor and enjoy them while we have our health.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/02/business/02markets.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss