The big answer to our current economic plight is not a new one: it is staring us right in the face. It has brought us out of many a recession before this one, and it will do so again. It is simply this: the ingenuity and perseverance of the American entrepreneur. Something never be taken lightly!
I was delighted to recently stumble across a blog post from GrowThink entitled The "Downturn" — Keeping Things in Perspective, by the firm's founder, Jay Turo. It is so good, I just want to do everything I can to spread it. 
I *so* wish I would have written it, because this every message has been going around in my head for some time now. And it's a message I guarantee you won't get from the mainstream media!
I wanted to call it out here as required reading. What you should get out of it is this: stop paying attention to the "woe-is-me" media … flight negativity with every bone in your body … and do everything you can to support our country's strong, ever-committed entrepreneurial economy. It is THE major source of new jobs and wealth creation in this country, and we all benefit from it greatly in myriad ways, directly or indirectly. It has been, and will continue to be, what makes our economy grow, and our country great. And no recession can hold it down! People, layoffs are about the past — the entrepreneurial economy is about the future…and change, positive change!!
I believe the year 2009 will bring great things, and I'm very proud to say I'm a supporter and believer in American Capitalism. It is the best political and economic system in the world, and it's a strong now as it ever was.
UPDATE 12/22/08: I was delighted to see that my friend Brian Solis wrote an *absolutely awesome* post on TechCrunch the day after I posted the above, called Fear Kills Businesses, Dead. It's a great complement to what I'm saying here in my post. There are so many reasons for businesses to be positive — yes, right now — particularly if you're a lean, mean, nimble tech startup! Read this post by Brian, and take it to heart! It even quotes my friend and past client Steve Larsen, who used to be based here in Minnesota. (See an article I wrote on Steve earlier this year, which appeared on "Chief Executive" magazine's site: Zen and the Art of Startup Maintenance.)
Graeme, this is a great subject for the next UnSummit! Would you be willing to lead a discussion on this? I think the “Fear Kills Businesses Dead” would also make a splendid session.
Don, great idea! I’d be happy to moderate a session. I already have in mind several of my entrepreneur friends I could ask to participate — both experienced (and seasoned by past downturns), and new ones (who definitely refuse to let fear stop ’em!)….