The press in the United States is not kind to the system of capitalism in the United States. But compared to the foreign press – Europe generally and the United Kingdom in particular – the U.S. press is genuinely kind.

That’s why the positive comments about the U.S. economy on Sunday in London’s Financial Times were so surprising. This was astounding, particularly considering it was the same British press (though admittedly not the same publication) that declared the United States to be facing a full-blown depression in 2008.

I recently saw an interesting quote: “There have always been up cycles and down cycles in business, and there always will. The best use of a down cycle is to prepare for the up cycles.”

Optimism mixed with wisdom brings great opportunity.