How is our country fairing a year after then President George W. Bush told Americans "Our system of free enterprise rests on the conviction that the federal government should interfere in the marketplace only when necessary. Given the precarious state of today's financial markets -- and their vital importance to the daily lives of the American people -- government intervention is not only warranted, it is essential."?

First quarter gross domestic product (GDP) tanked 6.4%.

Unemployment is at nearly 10%.

Almost 17% of Americans have no health insurance.

Our current deficit is $11.9 trillion

According to the National Debt Clock, the national debt has increased by about $3.90 billion per day since September 28, 2007.

The wars will have cost America 1.6 trillion by the end of the year. (That works out to almost $21,000 per family of four.)

GDP is expected to rise 3 percent during the third quarter, and economists see a similar climb for the fourth quarter.

Like so much in this country, there are both positives and negatives.  Let's hope the worst of the climb is now behind us.  Maybe we can even start thinking about how to balance that budget. But, please, Fed, stop printing money.  Inflation is a real - if lurking - threat.