Beyond the 'fiscal cliff': 6 reasons to be optimistic about America's future

As Americans take stock of 2012 and gear up for 2013, it's tempting to adopt "decline think" about the country, especially since there is still no deal to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of steep budget cuts and tax increases. But here are six reasons Americans should still be optimistic about their future.

4. Progress in housing market and manufacturing sector

Going forward, there are grounds for optimism. The Economist notes that US housing prices have stabilized and "even made small but steady gains in recent months." The Atlantic documents the "sustainable, just-getting-started return of manufacturing to the United States" and the potential reversal of a "decades-long relocation of American jobs to Asia."

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About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:

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