On the economic front, 2012 was a mixed year of cautious growth, surprises and setbacks. It was also a year of politics and global tumult - a time to deal with unresolved issues and ideological positions.
In the United States, the jobless rate has declined to a 4-year low, the housing market has stabilized, and financial markets are flush with cash.
But as 2012 comes to a close, there is unanimous agreement that the recovery has not been as strong as everyone had hoped.
The U.S. is not alone. In the rush to fix broken economies, conservative economist Richard Rahn says governments around the world continue to spend more than they take in. "If countries had only been spending wi
