A good day be to optimistic about the United States

Pardon us for taking a break from all of this nation's problems, but Independence Day is a day to feel good about the United States.

Hard to do, some might say. We're a nation in a war with no clear outcome, we're dependent upon a dwindling oil supply, and our economic status is dwindling in the world. We have millions of people living in poverty and without any way to afford health care, and millions more who are going into debt rather than saving for retirement. And we have a seemingly polarized political system in charge of solving those problems and many more.

So what's there to feel good about?

To start with, a history of overcoming those sorts of problems that goes back to the earliest days of our country's history. The Revolutionary War is remembered as a tremendous success, but its outcome was in great doubt for much of the war.

The nation's history is full of those dark hours, including the Civil War, the Depression and the Cold War. During all of those tests, the nation righted itself and demonstrated that the Founding Fathers had built their country on a solid foundation. They designed a system that filters the best of diverse viewpoints into laws that have made this among the most stable countries in the world. Sometimes, of course, it takes some trial and error on the part of our lawmakers, but they usually get it right in the end.

Maybe that's why poll after poll finds Americans are optimistic about this country's future.

Despite all of its problems, it's still among the most prosperous countries in the world, where anyone can achieve success and prosperity. And that's something worth celebrating.