The downturn in the U.S. economy has been the major concern this year, and signs are not positive. The stock market’s decline has been ongoing for more than a year and a half, and the Federal Reserve’s attempts to cut the interest rate and spark the economy have not had the anticipated impact. There are other signs throughout the economy: unemployment is at 4.5 percent, and layoffs at major corporations are seemingly a daily occurrence. According to the Federal Reserve, industrial production ha...