Small businesses are the drivers of the U.S. economy. Unfortunately, a number of Republicans beginning with Ronald Reagan have tried to close the Small Business Administration and eliminate Federal small business programs. These politicians take advantage of the cooperative efforts of conservative think tanks such as the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation. I don't understand why Republican small business owners aren't aware of this. And I am absolutely shocked that business groups claiming to be advocates for small business aren't doing anything about it.

The enterprise market is showing some signs of beginning to bounce back as the general economy begins to improve.

They start at the very beginning. The whole account of Adam and Eve is a very romantic picture. I'm also thinking about Samson. That's a really unique picture. He went down to this land and saw this lady and got what I call 'the tingles.' In that culture the parents worked out the details. I think that the phenomenon in that initial attraction is seen throughout human history.

In 2001, the oil companies, the war contractors and the Neo-Con-Artists seized the economy and added $4 trillion of unproductive spending to the national debt. We now pay four times more for defence, three times more for gasoline and home-heating oil and twice what we payed for health-care. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs, their homes, their health-care, their pensions; trillions of dollars for an unnecessary war payed for with borrowed money. Tens of billions of dollars in cash and weapons disappeared into thin air at the cost of the lives of our troops and innocent Iraqis, while all the President's oil men are maneuvering on Iraq's oil. Borrowed money to bomb bridges in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. No money to rebuild bridges in America. Borrowed money to start a hot war with Iran, now we have another cold war with Russia and the American economy has become a game of Russian roulette.

Recently, travel has become more accessible and affordable. The exclusivity of resort collections is beginning to lessen as more warm-weather seekers are planning winter getaways. Resort collections also provide a form of escape to those who may not be heading south but simply must update their winter wardrobes.

We've seen data from various sectors showing the economy is beginning to stabilize. Not only employment, but the manufacturing sector as well. And holiday retail sales, consumption and housing look OK. So, we have all these powerful stimulants that are going to contribute to growth as 2002 unfolds.