American has overcome many national problems and conflicts over the last 250 years. The present recession is just another challenge for those who like challenges. "When the going gets tough", the tough get going". "The improbable we do now. The impossible takes a little longer".

Here's a top ten list of national crises that were solved satisfactorily.

1. Getting rid of the colonial rule of Great Britain in the 18th century and founding a successful republic.
2. Putting an end to slavery during the Civil War and keeping the U.S. Federation together.
3. The gradual end of segregation for African Americans from 1865 to the 1970s.
4. The gradual end of the depression by FDR who encouraged infrastructure projects and international cooperation with other countries.
5. A successful end of the Second World War which brought about international organizations like "The World Trade Organization" "The United Nations" and "The World Bank", etc.
6. In 1962, JFK made the Soviet Union back down on its deployment of missiles in Cuba.
7. With the help of a free media and the Supreme Court, Richard Nixon's involvement in Watergate was exposed and he resigned.
8. From the 1950s to the 1980s, the Soviet Union was in an arms race with the U.S. that it couldn't afford. In the end, the Communist Union went bankrupt and split into many countries.
9. In the late 1980s, many Saving and Loan companies were bailed out by the Federal Government.
10. The U.S. recovered well after the 9/11 attack. Homeland security was beefed up and there were no further attacks on home soil.

The present financial and economic crisis is daunting to any leader in any country, but as the old saying goes, "The bigger the mountain, the sweeter the victory".

The recession will separate the winning companies and CEOs from the losers very quickly. Hopefully, the U.S. Government will invest in the winners of the next decade and beyond.