Suffice it to say, 2009 was a challenging year for both our nation and around the globe. Early indications are that we’re in for another bumpy ride in 2010 as Washington and the world economy attempt to find their way. No small task given the magnitude of the current recession, past history and what still lies ahead.

A surprising defeat in Massachusetts left the Democratic majority scrambling and Republican minority hopeful. Whether or not this is a fall election preview is purely speculative and typically influenced by one’s party affiliation. After all, human nature is to selectively interpret information and transform it into a format that fits or supports individual beliefs.

The path Washington is on continues to lose voter support. However, rather than acknowledging intense public displeasure, the administration instead countered with the threat of more financial regulation. Populist rhetoric, while effective in the 2008 campaign, must have real purpose. It cannot serve as a shield or deflection tactic for the missteps of Congress and cannot stifle an economic recovery.

The U.S. economy can only be stimulated by smaller — not larger — government. The current national debt, our unfortunate inheritance as taxpayers, is mind numbing with fi gures almost beyond comprehension. We owe it to future generations to stop reckless spending and to change the mindset that doing something is better than nothing in every instance. Getting it right is critical.

In Washington, we need real bipartisan support of measures that make sense, not voting along party lines. Elected officials need to realize that their job is not to inform the American people on what is best for them, but to listen to what the people want and deliver results to their constituents.

There is a lot to be thankful for here in North Dakota. We have low unemployment, vast reserves of recoverable energy, a strong agricultural base and responsible financial institutions. It isn’t by chance that the state’s economy is performing significantly better than the balance of the country. Our conservative common sense approach is why; we’ve earned our good fortune.

Locally we talk about possible manufacturing growth, progressive centers of higher education, aggressive drilling in the Bakken play, and a resilient and determined population. It’s an exciting time to be in North Dakota.

Nationally, there is also reason to be optimistic. The country is slowly navigating past the worst of the recession and signs of recovery are emerging. Unemployment, while certainly troubling, is stabilizing and a thawing of credit, the lifeblood of Main Street, is underway.

There are still challenges ahead, and considerable work has to be done. Even so, 2010 has the potential to be much improved, and better days can lie ahead despite the missteps of Washington. That is, if they listen …

Brian Kroshus,
publisher Business Watch