FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty:
News on the economy just keeps getting worse. We're officially in a recession, unemployment filings are at a 26-year high and more layoffs are reported every day. No one really knows if the end is near.
Two-thirds of Americans don't see the economy turning around anytime soon, according to a Gallup poll. Most of those surveyed think a turnaround is at least two years away.
Here's how it breaks down: 29 percent say it will be two years until the economy starts to recover, 20% say three to four years, and 17 percent say five or more years. Just 15% think it will be within a year.
This is mostly unchanged from how Americans felt three weeks ago despite the fact that the news has continued to get worse during that time.
It becomes a vicious cycle: public fears of a lengthy recession lead consumers to stop spending which makes the recession worse.
It's been a year since the recession started. As the folks at the Gallup Poll point out, if it takes two more years for recovery to start, this could be one of the worst economic downturns in the nation's history.
Here’s my question to you: What will it take for the economy to begin improving?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 5pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.