As many of us this Christmas weekend enjoy the company of family and friends, it’s nice to know that Americans hurt by the recent recession have reason for hope.
Our nation’s economy is finally regaining its muscle, with analysts predicting it will grow by nearly 4 percent next year.
This year is expected to wrap up with 2.8 percent growth, and holiday gift buying was as robust as pre-recession days.
Hiring is expected to increase in 2011, companies are ordering equipment, and the stock exchanges are expressing enthusiasm.
Yes, that’s cold comfort if you are one of the many unemployed. The rate continues to hover just below 10 percent.
But economic reports suggest that fewer companies are laying off workers, and the number of job seekers has edged down.
There are even signs the housing market could pick itself out of the ashes. And thanks to the compromise package that passed through Congress at the president’s urging, tax rates will not be rising and therefore won’t be choking off the growing economic strength.
Cynical deal deprives four of vote. The Senate confirmation of William Martinez this week as judge on the federal district court in Denver is a long time coming. The court had been struggling under its caseload with two of seven positions vacant. However, Martinez’s confirmation was reportedly part of a deal to move 19 of 38 pending nominees before Congress adjourns. The deal, according to The Associated Press, is that Republicans would allow these nominees through in exchange for a promise from Democrats not to seek votes on four others, including Goodwin Liu, a law school dean whose candidacy has been vehemently opposed by Republicans. Yet all of these nominees have made it through a rigorous vetting process and deserve an up or down vote in the Senate rather than be used as political bargaining chips.
The Grinch who stole the blue spruce. It’s hard to imagine who would be so cold as to steal evergreens right out of city parks to use as Christmas trees, but sometimes the holidays bring out the worst in folks. Denver officials this week reported a 7- to 8-foot blue spruce cut down and removed from Ash Grove Park, and a similar theft at Lindsley Park. An 8-foot blue spruce is valued at $500-$600, officials said. We struggle to envision how someone could actually look at a stolen tree standing in a living room and feel the joy of the season. That’s some holiday spirit.
Short Takes is compiled by Denver Post editorial writers and expresses the view of the newspaper’s editorial board.
