Secret to Recovery: Optimism

There’s a big economic problem that’s been keeping a low profile: American confidence, writes David Smick in the Washington Post. “Between $2.5 trillion and $4 trillion of private capital is waiting on the sidelines to ‘reliquify’ a new era of American confidence and innovation,” he notes. Now, we need a bipartisan effort to create an environment that inspires optimism.

President Obama and the next Speaker need to focus on “private-sector innovation,” asking themselves, “What conditions would induce a talented innovator in this threatening climate to take the risk of striking out with a new job-creating venture?” We must brace for “a long, hard slog,” but remember: “our national mood could make the difference between success and failure.”