by Garrison Frost

Bombings kill civilians in Iraq. Katrina victims still homeless a year after the hurricane. Poverty on the rise. Another Starbucks moving in. Test scored falling.

Reading the newspaper headlines can sure give you the impression that there is something definitely wrong in the world. But as bad as these headlines are, one of the best ways to realize what's wrong is to think of the headlines you don't read. For example:

Bin Laden enters fourth year rotting in federal prison

Success in Afghanistan making it unnecessary to open new fronts on terror war.

Teachers get massive pay increase
Subhead: Officials say that highest salaries should go to those directly involved in teaching children

Rise of small town downtowns turning big box malls into ghost towns.

New fuel standards reduce dependence on foreign oil
Subhead: Alaska drilling proponents drop idea as unnecessary

Jobs initiatives swell ranks of middle class with recently unemployed
Subhead: Poverty numbers plummet

Independent coffeehouses find new niche; chain stores on the retreat

Observers give election high grades for efficiency, transparency and participation
Subhead: New voting rules result in cleaner elections

Intense voter pressure forces Congress into special session to address corrupting influence of campaign contributions

President comes through on all campaign promises, offers new message of peace and hope

Democratic government of Iraq holds third national election, offers aid to neighboring countries

Scientists agree that worldwide effort has resulted in reductions in greenhouses gas, global warming.

Massive hurricane causes no significant damage in South
Subhead: Officials praised for foresight and rapid response.

Criminals increasingly turning to less violent methods due to unavailability of cheap guns.

Sprawl decreasing as developers increasingly look to revitalize inner cities with quality low-cost housing

Strong diplomatic push from U.S. results in new peace accords across Middle East.

(Sept. 1, 2006)

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