Heard any good news lately?
It’s hard to pick just one. One crisis. When the news is saturated with bad stuff, feeling upbeat isn’t easy. But let’s try anyway.
The U.S. financial crisis. Yep, it’s a big one alright. Have you ever heard so many opinions about what caused it, how bad it really is, and when it might end? It’s complex, and it’s dangerous, and it’s taken on a life of its own. But the good news is that this crisis will force change. Scrutiny of financial institutions will be greater. Regulatory agencies may well stop looking the other way and actually identify brewing problems. Many companies — currently forced to endure painful layoffs — will adjust their business models for better productivity and profitability. Individual consumers like us will be more alert to scams, easy money, and credit pitfalls. We all will be smarter.
The salmonella crisis. The tainted peanut products from a Georgia plant have clobbered our food safety industry. This may be the biggest foods recall in history. A ninth person died today from poisoned peanuts, and the company who produced them won’t talk — not even to Congress. But the good news is that all food processors are waking up. Distributors and grocery chains will mount pressure on suppliers to guarantee safe food. Heavily agricultural states will add inspectors. The FDA will re-prioritize its inspection channels. Individual consumers like us will share ideas and information about food safety through social media, and we’ll become better preparers of food in our homes.