"Last week the government reported that the Gross Domestic Product grew at a healthy rate. The most recent measure of output of "goods and services produced by labor and property" increased at an annual rate of 4.3 percent, according to the Commerce Department. The government did say corporate profits declined because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, "reflecting the net benefits paid by domestic insurance companies and the uninsured losses of corporate property."

But these were "good" numbers and President Bush was pleased with the report. "America's workers and businesses have overcome the challenges of two hurricanes and high energy prices," he told The Associated Press.

But I am not satisfied. The numbers don't seem to add up. What about the nation's debt load, both personal and governmental? How are we going to pay for what we owe?"

Get the Story:
Mark Trahant: Collective excess will have to be paid for (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 12/4)

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