Restoring confidence is job one

Looking at the opinion polls, it’s easy to be depressed these days. Three out of four likely voters say America’s on the wrong track, consumer confidence has tanked, investors are sitting on the sidelines and job growth has stalled.

In short, this is not a recipe for optimism.

In his most recent survey, Seattle pollster Stu Elway found that voter confidence has sunk to an all-time low, the worst he’s seen in 20 years.

Elway writes: “Economic recovery is a little like the five-day weather forecast around here this year — the sun is always five days away. Two years ago, 68 percent of Washington...