Those are just a few of the reasons that we have to be concerned about the future of the U.S. economy.

But here's another perspective -- a bit of hope in the midst of a whole lot of doom and gloom -- and a government that just seemed to catch up this week and realize there has been a recession for more than a year.

Retail sales nationwide on Black Friday were up nearly 7 percent. So, what does that mean? More people decided to get out and shop a bit for Christmas presents this year than they did last year. And while a good number last week was not a sign that the end of this nation's economic troubles is near, it is not a sign of the other "the end is near" either.

Some of the concerns we are dealing with right now might be laid at our own doors. Hearing comments from pundits about the future of this nation's economy and then seeing stock market slides, it is hard to get too enthusiastic about investing or building a business.

Nothing makes someone want to put his or her money under the bed faster than hearing another doom and gloom assessment. It really becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You hear that the stock market is plummeting, so you pull back on your spending and your investments. Millions of people watching pennies and pulling their money out of Wall Street causes businesses and investment firms to falter. Next thing you know, businesses are closing and people are out of work.

See the circle?

This is not the time to be a Pollyanna -- only seeing what we want to see and ignoring the concerns. Watching your budget for leaks is a necessary act of responsibility right now. This is no time to be a maverick.

But we should also consider, too, that this community and country have done well. We are not going down the tubes anytime soon and there are some safeguards in place that will help us get back on our feet.

In other words, what we need right now is to have a little faith and to live our lives.

Calm might be just what we need to turn this bottom line back to black.

That is what seems to be happening to Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi and some of her Democratic colleagues.

In their zeal to erase the past, they are actually sending trial balloons up about asking President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney to resign their posts early -- to allow President-elect Barack Obama to come in and start work.

The pitch? That the new administration needs to get in and fix the economy that Bush destroyed.

And that would be fine except for one fact -- if we are getting rid of people who have created the havoc in the economy, Pelosi and Sen. Christopher Dodd would also have to be on that list -- along with Rep. Barney Frank.

These are a few of the people who pushed irresponsible lending practices and created the mortgage debacle we have right now -- even though they were warned that disaster loomed. And one of those three musketeers even took a sweetheart mortgage deal from one of the nation's biggest problem lenders.

Not exactly the foxes you want in charge of your new economic henhouse are they?

Pelosi and company are trying to do what politicians always do -- divert attention away from their own shortcomings and misdeeds.

Unfortunately for them, even "Saturday Night Live" isn't dumb enough to fall for it.

So, if Pelosi wants to continue her call for cleaning out the offices early, now is the time for her to call for a more thorough examination of her own party's dirty laundry.

That way, we will be rid of all of those whose bad judgment and less-than-honorable dealings set this new economic reality in motion.

The men and women who so generously agreed to don the Hawaiian gear are a part of a team of sorts -- a group of local business people and public servants who know that a community does not prosper if it does not stick together.

They represent the hundreds of businesses and thousands of people who have already decided to be part of this year's United Way fund drive through employee campaigns and corporate donations. Because of their efforts and the generosity of their employees, more than $1.2 million has already been raised to keep the programs sponsored by the United Way and its partners going in 2009.

But there is still a little ways to go to reach the $1.42 million mark -- this year's goal -- and a short time left to accomplish that feat.

The United Way is about people at its core. The money you donate does not go off to another city, and the people who benefit are not strangers you might never meet. The lives that are changed by the programs that the United Way partners sponsor are those of your neighbors, family and friends. And this year, more than 28,000 are counting on you.

Not too many people have extra money lying around the house these days. The economy has made many of us think twice about spending and giving. But this is the time when you are needed the most, especially if you have a lot to be thankful for this year.

The stories are real -- seniors who have a hot lunch because of the Meals on Wheels program, a teenager who gets help with his homework and a place to stay safe and out of trouble after school because of the Boys and Girls Club, a person who is down on his luck who gets a helping hand at the Salvation Army or a disabled person who finds a job and a purpose with the Wayne Opportunity Center -- and those are just a few of the places your money will make a difference.

You never know when your own life might be touched by the United Way -- or that of a family member, either. The Red Cross, another United Way partner, helps families from all walks of life through its disaster services and blood donation programs.

So although this past week has been about fun, the most important message is that you can make a difference with one checkmark and a realization that a community only succeeds when its members care about one another.

So Ride the Wave this week and become a part of the 2008 campaign. In the end, you will be able to see the results of your investment in the faces of the 28,400 people for whom your dollars have helped make a new life.

They are counting on you.

After what has seemed like a full term of forgetting that he was the governor, this lame duck has decided to flap his wings.

And in a big way.

While it might seem like a good idea to fast track a bunch of government projects -- who could argue with good, old construction -- it seems that perhaps the act might be a bit rash and not the best idea right now at a time when there might be more pressing needs.

The governor has just asked for millions of dollars back from the state's schools because of a budget deficit that seems to have all of a sudden creeped up on North Carolina's leaders.

And in very few places on the list of approved projects for this stimulus package do you see the words "school" or "education."

Sure, there are a few colleges getting a boost -- and none around these parts by the way -- but the state's elementary and secondary schools did not make the list.

Hmmm. Education governor, huh?

Now, sure, these are projects that are already in the works -- and with the pace at which state leaders work, there simply might not be enough time to retool the list.

But after years of a great expanse of almost nothing from Raleigh, this is a whole lot to get done in the last few weeks of an administration -- especially in such an "executive order" kind of edict.

Hopefully, Lt. Gov. and Gov.-elect Bev Perdue is doing some supervising.

Look, the trick when there is an economic challenge in a state that has been doing pretty well is not to panic, not to make spur-of-the-moment decisions that could potentially make things worse, not to set up a whole program you are not going to be around to supervise.

And, really, when you are on your way out is not the time to send the apple cart careening down a potentially hairpin curve.

A stimulus package is not such a bad idea. North Carolina leaders should be thinking about the next, best step.

But what we don't need now, when the country is trying to figure out the twists and turns of bailouts and market fluctuations, is another big-ticket expenditure.

And then there is the little problem of the rather checkered past of other state construction projects -- of the road variety. We certainly should be making sure those oversight concerns are resolved before we take on $700 million in new projects.

Easley should go back to his easy chair and enjoy a restful rest of his last term.

His job now is to keep the ship on course -- not to throw the map out the window.

It will be Gov.-elect Perdue's job to decide what comes next -- and hopefully she will do prudently and thoughtfully.

We celebrate the day when pilgrims from across the sea -- and a few ne'er-do-wells as well -- found the shores of a new country, a new place for a new start.

Thanksgiving is not just about being reminded of all the reasons to remember what is important in life -- friends, family, a home, a job.

It is not just about turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie.

This holiday is about remembering the first baby steps of a new country -- and the men, women and children who gathered up their gumption and carved out their own place in a strange new world.

It is about bravery. It is about adventure. It is about taking a chance.

It is, in essence, about our first few steps as Americans.

We have had a rough few months.

The election is over, but the economic crisis isn't quite. We are waiting for a new president to take office, and wondering what kind of changes his administration will bring. Some of us are approaching that leadership change with elation, while others await Jan. 20 with some trepidation.

We are fighting a war some people aren't sure about, while others worry that some might have forgotten the price that has been paid for our freedom and the responsibility of protecting it.

We wonder about our place in the world -- our responsibility. We consider just how much we owe to others and whether we should stand for those who cannot stand for themselves or if it is time to turn away.

We know we have enemies -- and are still trying to figure out what to do about them, while keeping in mind that we must set an example and lead with dignity and strength. Yet, we will act while never, ever forgetting the 3,000-plus people we lost one fateful morning in 2001.

We argue. We fight. And sometimes, we take for granted the very rights that allow us to speak our minds and to take a stand. We forget our flag is more than stars, stripes and cloth -- that it represents lives lost in its defense.

We remember the story of our early colonial government and the men who risked their lives to challenge a crown, yet sometimes it is merely a chapter in a history book.

We teach our children about a small gathering of pilgrims who landed on the shores of a strange land and went about the business of turning it into their adopted home. Yet, sometimes we don't really realize just how brave and scared they must have been and how much of them is still a part of us.

But today, of all days, we should remember the stock from which we came -- whether from that group of original pioneers or from the legions of immigrants who took a chance on a new life in a new world.

We will continue to be conflicted about who we are and where we are going because we are of that same ilk -- adventurers, freedom fighters and pilgrims determined to live our lives by principle, even if we falter sometimes.

We should be proud today of how far we have come -- and that we realize that there is still work to do. We should embrace our differences, while never forgetting the bonds that unite us.

Because in the end, this is our country -- one that generations have fought to protect and that we are entrusted with caring for, in trust, for future generations.

We should be thankful to be Americans.

Record turnouts across the country were a welcome sight for many of those who have long thought that Americans seem to have no interest in their government and no appreciation for their right to vote.

In Wayne County alone, 72 percent of registered voters decided to get out and make their choices known.

That is an incredible record.

And then just when many pundits were starting to wonder if perhaps American voters were back in the saddle again, the talk show hosts and comedians decided to ask people why they cast their votes the way they did -- and what they wanted to see out of their new administration.

And the answers were more than a little shocking.

One man said it was such an important election that he voted twice. Another young voter said that he did not mind at all that Sarah Palin would be vice president if Barack Obama was elected.

And then there were the people who expressed support for the policies of Barack Obama. That would have been great ... except they were the policies on which John McCain was campaigning.

These were some of the most blatant examples of voter irresponsibility on the Democratic side -- and there were most assuredly some on the Republicans' side, too.

And no matter which party you claim, that can't be the kind of electorate you want to see deciding the future of your country.

It is more than a little surprising how many adults are simply uninformed about their country and its government.

And this time, it was even more of a concern because it seems that race might have been an overwhelming factor in how some people cast their ballots -- both ways.

America's future is dependent on the intelligence and competence of the men and women we elect to run it. Decisions about whom to put in elected office must be made with that in mind -- and by voters who take their responsibility seriously.

And to get the best people into office, we have to have an electorate that knows what it is doing.

So, over the next four years, perhaps there can be a bipartisan effort to lead a voter education drive. That would be a policy worth supporting.

They have been forced to worry more about credit ratings and home loans -- and they have had to wait before rushing out to buy the newest and shiniest.

And while there has been some really bad news associated with this current economic shutdown, perhaps making a few more Americans think before they rack up more debt or deplete their bank accounts is not such a bad idea after all.

The recent gas crisis is a sort of model for the economic times we are currently facing. Gas prices shot up to $4-plus a gallon and drivers thought a bit more about the trips they took. Bingo -- less consumption and irresponsible car use.

Same result is probably going to be true for the economic crunch.

Credit markets dry up and people are worried about their jobs, so they spend more responsibly as a result. Bingo -- less unsecured debt and more people who might actually be beginning to get their finances under control.

The economic crisis is much more complicated than just consumer spending, but if we really want to fix what ails us, we have to acknowledge that many of us contributed to the problem.

So, taking an extra minute to think before pulling out the credit card might be just what the doctor ordered -- if we want a solid economy.

So when a community organization comes along and offers to raise money for mini grants to allow teachers to step out of the traditional classroom box, it is an opportunity not to be missed.

The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce this week passed out money to a variety of projects around the school system designed to increase learning opportunities for county children. The money is raised, in part, from the chamber's annual spelling bee fundraiser.

The amounts are not large, but they are a sign that chamber members understand the importance of improving the quality of instruction in the county schools and are willing to spearhead an effort to put their money where their mouths are.

And as money gets tighter and tighter, programs like this -- as well as support from the community in general, are critical pieces of the effort to make sure Wayne County's children get the best possible education they can receive.

This county has made it clear how important education is and how much its residents support Wayne County's schools.

This is one of many ways of showing that they are willing to invest to make sure the progress continues.

That said, if there are any school districts that have money sitting around doing nothing, by all means, send it back to Raleigh.

But on the off-chance that perhaps that money could be used for better purposes, maybe the state's chief executive should think about some better ways to trim the state budget.

Cultural affairs travel might be the first place we would start if we were in charge of cutting back on state expenses and making better use of taxpayer dollars.

After what has seemed like years of dormancy, now lame duck Gov. Mike Easley has all of a sudden decided to be a governor. Heck, he even left Raleigh to travel to Kenly to see the tornado damage rather than watching the coverage on the news.

And while the image might be amusing, the truth is that perhaps now might not be the time to be coming up with all kinds of far-reaching economic moves and calls for belt-tightening. Perhaps that would be better left to the next administration.

There is plenty of extra to cut in Raleigh, but money for the schools really does not seem to be high on the list of places to start looking for savings. While the statewide expense cut might be well-intentioned, it is something that should be considered carefully with the future and priorities in mind. We trust that Gov.-elect Beverly Perdue is already starting to think about that task.

All Easley should be doing now is keeping the ship on course.

Law enforcement officers from around the country have been saying over and over that there is a reason to be concerned about the number of crimes committed by illegal immigrants -- and that they are often powerless to do anything about making sure these offenders are sent on their way.

And now, finally, we are getting some statistics.

Sheriffs in seven North Carolina counties have identified more than 3,100 people in their jails processed for deportation proceedings this year, according to news reports this week.

And, by the way, just in case you missed it, that does not mean that the sheriffs are able to definitively say that those offenders are on their way back to where they came from, either.

The problem with illegal immigration, not just in the border states but all around the country, is that the system is so overwhelmed that it cannot handle the oversight necessary to get these criminals sent back to their home countries when they are caught violating the law.

Law enforcement officials are understandably frustrated. They work hard to get the investigations completed and the charges filed only to have the criminal, in essence, relocate.

The problems associated with illegal immigration are more than figuring out how to pay for the services these people need. It is about more than Spanish language debates and concerns regarding how to provide adequate education for the children who often come with them.

Illegal immigration is becoming so much more of an issue because it is becoming increasing harder to regulate and control.

There are many good people who choose to come to the United States in search of a better life. We need to make it possible for them to take advantage of the citizenship process and to get their chance to become legal residents.

But there are also those whose purpose here is less than noble and who have no respect for this country's laws or the responsibilities that accompany living here.

We can't wait any longer to figure out a way to weed them out and to send them back home.

And if we don't come up with a plan soon, an already overwhelmed system is going to collapse -- and we will have a much bigger and more expensive problem.

The 40-minute meeting was designed to forge a new partnership between the former adversaries as this country prepares for a new leader and -- allegedly -- a new direction.

Not much was released from the meeting, but its gist was simply that the battle lines must now be put away and this country must unite behind its new president. And that new president, in turn, promises to listen to advice and ideas from both sides of the aisle.

This is not the first overture Obama has made since his election in November, and he says it will not be his last. The president-elect has decided to model his administration, in part, on the theory that Abraham Lincoln espoused -- a team of rivals.

And it will be great if this bipartisan spirit really does carry on through January and beyond. The country will probably be a better place if it does.

But as Obama chooses his team -- and the names start to fly -- this is a time to remember something that might not have been a factor for any other president who has been chosen to lead this nation. They did not promise wholesale change in how Washington does business. Obama has.

The old Washington procedure is to use a victory like this to reward long-suffering party leaders -- to give them positions of authority in the new administration as a sort of perk. It also is a chance to soothe former rivals.

There is also a tendency not to consider anyone from across the aisle. Why would you? To the victor go the spoils, right?

President-elect Obama has promised a new view, a leadership team with diverse ideas as well as backgrounds.

As he chooses his staff for the next four years, he should remember that promise. And that means making sure that every person he picks for a position of leadership is the best-qualified to do the job. This is not a popularity contest or a chance to repay favors.

The American people elected someone they thought would be different, who would change the face of politics. President-elect Obama is now charged with being that agent -- and that job starts right now, with the people he picks to assist him at the helm.

And while it is difficult to see the steep drop in gas prices as anything but good news, we need to be careful as we celebrate stops at the pump that do not require a line of credit.

Americans take gas usage for granted and when the prices are reasonable they fill up -- and they do not think about conservation.

When the prices went sky-high, most families did stop to think about whether a trip was necessary or if they could combine excursions.

Now, with gas low again, that hesitancy is not as common and more and more people seem to be back at the pump with abandon.

Americans in both parties talk about preparing this nation for a future without dependence on foreign oil, but there is no real push or behavior change unless there is some strain on their wallets.

So, with prices low again, that makes you wonder if energy conservation will be taken seriously.

We learned a lot over the past few months. Chief among those lessons is that there are ways to conserve energy and to keep costs lower.

And since many of us are now in the habit, perhaps we can continue thinking before we pump our cars full of gas or make that extra, but probably unnecessary, trip.

There is no magic bullet that is going to make the United States less energy dependent. It is going to take making it a priority. Now is the time to start.

There are a lot of names being bandied about -- some of which might not really be contenders, but all of which say something about the kind of president we can expect to be sitting in the Oval Office next year.

Some of the names mentioned are familiar -- Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell -- and others might be people we have never even heard of before, but who have been active in Democratic policy-making.

And you never know, there might even be a few surprise appointments from across the aisle.

But as the president-elect reviews his options, there is something he needs to remember that will serve him well if he really is intent on creating a new administration that transcends traditional politics.

Americans want their leaders to think of their country first.

We want them to make the right decisions to make this country prosperous and to take care of those who cannot help themselves. We want them to stop waste and to use taxpayer money responsibly.

And we want them to remember that while the United States needs to be a world citizen, American interests are what we have charged them with safeguarding.

All that requires a bit more bipartisanship and a bit less politics.

Many people said they voted for what Sen. Barack Obama said he would bring to the table -- a change from the traditional view of how Washington operates.

Now is the first chance to show that good ideas -- and trusted advisers -- can come from many different places.

It will be interesting to see if the new president's Cabinet reflects that campaign promise of change.

If so, you don't want to follow the latest stink coming from the office of Superior Court Judge Jerry Braswell.

It seems his jail liaison Corin Craft -- the temporary employee whose program he touted during his campaign as such an asset to the county court system -- has been let go because of allegations she falsified her timesheet.

It seems this young woman was out campaigning for Judge Braswell when her timesheet says she was in her county office.

She says she was told by her supervisor, (Judge Braswell) to campaign -- so she did, both on her own and during her workday. She says, however, that she also worked the required number of hours to earn her county paycheck, but that the timesheet did not allow her to record checking out and in for the flexible hours required to complete the campaign duties.

She said Judge Braswell signed her timesheet knowing what she was doing. He, of course, denies telling Ms. Craft to do any campaigning -- adding that he regularly signs timesheets without being able to verify exact hours worked.

Hmmm. Really?

The problem with this incident is not only that a young woman was told to go campaign for a judge -- whether that statement was implied or expressed -- even though that behavior would be reprehensible and just plain wrong.

And it is not just that a sitting court judge just signed a timesheet without an attached explanation, knowing that the employee involved had been working on his campaign and that there could have been a conflict of interest.

What is shocking here is that this is yet another -- just under the radar question of integrity and forthrightness concerning Judge Braswell's office.

The most essential qualities in a judge, court liaison or anyone who deals with the administration of justice is that he or she acts with ethics and propriety in mind -- and that he or she abides by the letter and spirit of the law at all times.

The guideline is simple -- if it has even a whiff of an ethical concern, don't do it.

How hard is that?

The same advice could be applied to other state, local and national officeholders who also don't seem to see anything wrong with bending the rules as long as no one finds out -- and as long as they are not actually broken.

We should not tolerate any shenanigans when it comes to those who have been entrusted with leadership positions in this county, state or nation. It is simply not right.

There are many people who wonder why American voters seem to need to have their arms twisted when it comes time to pick their leaders. This is why.

You simply do not know whether the candidate who is speaking to you is really going to stand up for the principles he or she professes to believe in before the election.

And it is awfully disappointing to find out you wasted your vote on someone who seems only to be working for him or herself.

Judge Braswell is on his way out, so this is not really a concern for Wayne County's future.

But it is an issue for the Judicial Standards Commission to consider and an incident on which a finding should be released.

That way, present and future judges will know that this is the sort of "oversight" that will not be tolerated if you are lucky enough to be chosen to wear a judge's robe in this state -- and that North Carolina is a place where judges' decision-making and behavior are above reproach.

We should insist on nothing less.