We'll have a good Christmas

"Scott Brown, chief economist with Raymond James & Associates in St. Petersburg, Fla., predicts that U.S. economic growth could be "close to zero, maybe negative" in the first half of the year but likely improve in the second half."

Things might go backwards for a couple of months.  Might.  It might just flat line for a bit but then everything is going to be okay.  Ben Bernanke is going to wave his wand and everyone's house value will return to its over-inflated price and people will be able to refinance to get out the equity and start spending gobs of money on poisonous crap from China again.

Okay, the article doesn't say that Bernanke will wave his magic wand.  It doesn't even say good ole Ben has a magic wand, to be honest.

The article also doesn't mention that the economy was being artificially fueled by skyrocketing illusionary home values and that many experts believe it will be at least 5 years before home prices return to those values.

I suppose the $600 checks we'll be getting are as good as 5% per year equity on a $417,000 home.  That and the ever lowering of the Feds interest rates. 

So, for those people who haven't lost their jobs, their houses, their health, their spouses, the value of their dollar, or their sanity - it's going to be great Christmas.

Glory and Hallelujah.