After much discussion in the mainstream media of the weakening of the U.S. economy, it seems worthwhile to consider the true vitality of this economy that so many have forecasted as being all but over.

The American economy, even in its most depleted of states over the years, produces the largest single output in the world, more than most of the other nations of the world combined including Japan, Germany and Great Britain. These nations are our closest competitors.

According to one columnist, “Measured by purchasing power, output per capita in the United States is the highest of any large nation.”

So the question that remains to be answered is why so many have painted a very different portrait of the true silhouette of the U.S. economy?

The answer is simple, politics.

Never before has the U.S. enjoyed such a time of economic and job growth than over the last seven years. But, to listen to many of the talking heads on the news networks you’d think that the country’s last job had just been outsourced to China.

Many have suggested that the country is in a recession. But so far, this has proven not to be the case.

My dad has said for several years the economy has to periodically adjust itself and his words have proven true. He has correctly predicted the economic downturn that resulted from the transitioning of every president since Reagan.

He says things get tight because Wall Street doesn’t know whom to pay under the table. While only joking, I believe he is right in that the markets respond to the direction of the chief policy maker and his forbearer.

With the choice of the two we have running now to occupy the position, no wonder the markets are uneasy.

Neither Obama nor McCain have held to their records as liberals. Both are now recasting themselves as the conservative choice. Who would have ever thought either of the two would have embraced the policies of George W. Bush, but both are quickly adopting many of his initiatives. So, no wonder the U.S. markets are in a state of confusion.

The dirty little secret is that his economic policies and tax breaks have worked and will be proven by history. Wait and see.

But back to my original point — the U.S. economy is the envy of the entire world. People are standing in line to get into this country unlike any other on the planet.

This also leads to the realization that all other economies in the world market are solely dependent upon ours. They cannot make it without us. On the other hand, without them we will be just fine. We set the benchmarks that all other industrial nations aspire to achieve.

Even OPEC, while somewhat manipulating it, knows that their very livelihood depends on us. Forget China — without our consumers those oil producers know their potential for profit hits the rock bottom of the barrel. This is why they recently met to see what they could do to bring gas prices down and regain the lost American revenue.

Quite simply we must remember that the same Chinese character that means crisis also means opportunity. Americans have always demonstrated that when the chips are down, that’s when the country shines the brightest. Remember WWII and other similar events where the danger faced by the nation prompted our brave men and women to rise to the occasion and face down the greatest threat to democracy and capitalism the world had ever known.

Although the country faces a bit of an economic slowdown today, let us choose to embrace it for what it offers us — opportunity to again reinvent ourselves and continue to be the fuel that runs the economic engine world.

Larry Brooks is a staff writer for the Walker County Messenger. He can be reached by email at lbrooks@walkermessenger.com.