Following the publication of my story about "the new Mr. America: Bankrupt, Diseased and Running Out of Options," we received a number of complaints from some readers who thought the story was too dark. It's just "too negative" to talk about the actual financial numbers in the U.S. budget, it seems. Who really cares about all that accounting, anyway? (Congress obviously doesn't...) What Americans really want is more happy talk!

Keep it positive. Stay upbeat. Talk about the good news!