WHICH MAKES THAT "DESPITE" A NON SEQUITIR:

In the Black: Despite everything, Black Friday was a roaring success this year. (Irwin M. Stelzer, 11/25/2005, Weekly Standard)

THE WASHINGTON POST doubted that Americans would enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday, announcing on the morning of turkey day that 61 percent of Americans are "anxious about money." So anxious, in fact, that the very next day between 130 million and 150 million headed to the malls to spend a sum that exceeds the GDP of three quarters of the world's countries. Wal-Mart alone racked up some $2 billion in sales.

Sure, heating bills this winter will be higher, perhaps by about as much as 40 percent. But many consumers have budget billing arrangements with their utilities and fuel oil dealers, and so they will be able to spread the pain over the year. And sure, consumer debt is rather high, interest rates are rising, and house prices might not be as great a source of increased wealth as they have been in recent years.

But gasoline prices are coming down, stock prices are headed towards record levels, corporate profits continue to rack up double-digit gains, Wall Streeters will find their Christmas stockings stuffed with bonuses fit for the masters-of-the-universe that they think they are, the economy is growing at a healthy clip while inflation remains tame, and most Americans are richer than they have ever been.