Happy Days Will Soon Be Here Again

Michael Sanson

The "experts" can’t seem to agree whether the current economic downturn is a recession, but semantics is of little importance to those with cash registers. When the economy is sluggish, consumer spending slows. It’s that simple.

According to an article in the July issue of Fast Company magazine, however, you have little to worry about. If you believe Roger Cass, the subject of its article, this country is only seven years into a juicy 27-year economic expansion. We’re merely experiencing a short-lived lull, he says.

Cass, the article asserts, has accurately predicted every big economic event of the past 30 years. In the ’70s, during the oil "crisis," he predicted that the Saudis would plummet into decades of economic disarray. In the ’80s, when economists predicted that Japan would eclipse the U.S. as an economic power, Cass countered that the Japanese market would collapse. He predicted, writes Fast Company, the economic boom of the ’90s decades before it happened.

Cass says that what’s taking place now in our economy is merely an interruption that will end by next year, perhaps months sooner. The dot.com implosion, the fall of stock prices, the rise of layoffs are all temporary, he insists.

So, if Cass is right—and his past record suggests he is—any economic-related sluggishness you’ve been experiencing will soon be over.

Take this bit of hopeful news for what it’s worth. Meanwhile, if you want to read more about Cass and how he comes up with his predictions, go to www.fastcompany.com.

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The economy is not the only thing working to keep you down. Negative mojo comes from every weird little corner. Take the case of Imodium A.D.; you know, the pill designed to clear up—dare I say it—diarrhea.

Anyway, a recent ad of theirs understandably ticked off Steve Anderson, the NRA’s top dog. The ad depicts a roll of toilet paper in a public restroom. On the toilet paper is the message: If you think the food in some places makes you sick, wait until you see the restrooms.

Anderson sent off his own message telling the makers of Imodium that he doesn’t like them trashing the restaurant industry’s 11 million workers. As a result, the ad was yanked and replaced with one that insults the airline industry. "I’ll let them handle that one," Anderson joked.

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Meanwhile, in Denver, the Flying Dog Brewery filed a suit recently challenging a state law that bans the use of profanity in places that serve liquor. "We feel a great responsibility to defend our [First Amendment] rights against bullying bureaucrats,"says George Stranahan, the owner of the irreverent Flying Dog, which offers beers with names such as "In-Heat Wheat" Hafenweizen Ale and "Doggie-Style" Classic Pale Ale.

Under the current law, Stranahan says he could have lost his liquor license because of customer comments during the recent presidential election night coverage. And the Flying Dog wouldn’t stand a chance during any televised sporting event, he added. Give ’em hell, George!