Where do they get these people?

The federal deficit just hit its lowest level since 2002 and September unemployment was 4.7 percent -- very good news for Americans. Yet British newspaper readers might suppose it was all gloom and doom, that is, if they read the Guardian:

America, in short, is in a deep funk. Far from feeling hopeful, it appears fearful of the outside world and despondent about its own future. Not only do most believe tomorrow will be worse than today, they also feel that there is little that can be done about it.

Perhaps the clueless Brit confuses our citizens' negative opinion of the government in Washington with being "despondent" about America itself. But that's the beauty of limited government: People can be quite happy in their own lives while simultaneously believing their government is corrupt and incompetent.

Just in case any Brits are reading this: Things are jolly well splendid over here, lads. Don't let that bloke from the Guardian tell you otherwise.

And by the way, the unemployment rate in the UK is 5.4 percent -- if Americans are "despondent," does this mean Brits are pathologically depressed?

-- Robert Stacy McCain, assistant national editor, The Washington Times