More Body Blows

Each day seems to bring more bad news.

Today, CNNMoney.com is reporting that consumer confidence is at an all-time low.

"The month's reading represents an all-time low going back to the index's inception in 1967," writes Catherine Clifford.

The finding apparently comes as something of a surprise when compared to expectations expressed in a Briefing.com consensus survey of economists. Clifford writes that the economists believed the index would increase from December's reading.

I guess that optimistic outlook was inspired, at least in part, by the fact that Americans apparently overwhelmingly approve of Barack Obama, giving him the second-highest initial approval rating of any president elected to his first term in office since Gallup began measuring it.

High initial approval ratings do not mean that the president's administration will live up to the lofty expectations, of course. Jimmy Carter enjoyed nearly as high ratings when he took office in 1977, only to be turned out by the voters four years later.

But it's a good start for Obama. It shows that most Americans want him to succeed. Maybe they want him to succeed for selfish reasons. But they're pulling for him in numbers that many freshly elected presidents do not enjoy.

Still, as the consumer confidence index shows, there is a crisis of confidence in the land. I know how hard it is to take on the challenges that each day brings. In fact, I wrote about that — in a way &mdash in my Birth of a Notion blog earlier today (and, incidentally, if you read that blog earlier, you may have missed a second video clip that I added to it — and I urge you to watch it because it is, indeed, inspirational).

It's not my intention to give a pep talk here. But, in writing that particular piece, I think — well, I hope — I learned some things, and I hope I expressed them in a way that may help others who are losing confidence.

I don't have the answer for unemployment. I wish I did. And I don't have the answer for those who are struggling to keep their homes. I wish I did.

It is said that faith is believing in things unseen. I guess it's only natural for human beings to want to see something before they can believe in it.

But before the economy can turn around, consumers must find the confidence within themselves to face whatever comes without fear, without panic, without self-doubt. The president can't do that for you. Nor can the Congress do it for you.

The obstacles may be numerous. The road may be long. But things aren't going to get appreciably better until that happens.

My sincere best wishes to all who are struggling at this time.