Good morning, Netizens...

In this morning's picture of the day, courtesy of Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images / July 15, 2008, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke prepares to testify before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in Washington. Bernanke said risks to both growth and inflation in the U.S. have increased. Do you think?

Between the mortgage crises and the escalating cost of fuel, do you believe, as some obviously do, that we are facing certain economic meltdown in the United States? Or are we already there and simply being told to ignore the obvious? Given that we received another round of bad news Wednesday, as consumer prices made their biggest monthly jump in 26 years, are you feeling the least bit optimistic about the future of our national economy?

If so, why?

If not, why not?

Admittedly I am a pessimist, because I believe the hard facts: costs are soaring through the roof while Bush is mouthing pieties and Bernanke is understating the obvious, in my opinion. We in the business marketplace are feeling the pinch of the recession more and more each day, with no end in sight.

Where do you stand on the economy?

Dave

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