Gail Collins: Count Those Blessings

[babylonsister]

Count Those Blessings

By GAIL COLLINS
Published: November 26, 2008


Time to give thanks. Let’s get cracking.

Sure, this isn’t the absolutely best and brightest holiday season ever. But look at the pluses. There has never been a better time to buy a condo in Reno, Nev., or a plane ticket from Oklahoma City to Disney World. Bargains abound!

And we sleep the sleep of the insolvent innocent. Our retirement funds may have evaporated, and we may be envisioning ourselves deep-frying chicken nuggets on our 85th birthdays. But the good part is that it wasn’t our fault. As a matter of fact, if it had been left to us, the subprime derivative never would have been invented. And a clean conscience is worth more than all the golden parachutes, indoor squash courts and $13 million vacation houses in the world.

Also, we’re thankful that we’re not Iceland.

Of course, we’re glad that George Bush is gone. Or almost. Sure does seem to be taking his time, doesn’t he?

And we’re thankful for Barack Obama. Can’t get enough of him — which is a good thing, because he’s been on TV a lot. Everybody seems pleased that he plans to use Abraham Lincoln’s “Team of Rivals” strategy to encourage a wide range of views within his administration. This sounded even better, however, before I heard that Millard Fillmore used it first.

Some people are upset because Obama has been dipping into the old Clinton crowd for his appointments. But really, where did you expect him to go? The Carter administration?

This does not qualify as bad news. Bad news would be suddenly noticing that the president-elect was filling the White House with old friends from the Illinois State Senate.

So, we’re happy. Give thanks.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/opinion/27collins.html?_r=1&ref=opinion