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The economy has had more than its share of trouble lately: Japan's earthquake comes on top of rising oil and food prices, political turmoil in the Middle East and a crop of government austerity measures. But investing opportunities lie hidden behind the bad news.

Consumers, it seems, are the key to everything economic -- and the more gluttonous we are, the better. (At least until the bill comes due.) After all, we are (or were) 70 percent of U.S. gross domestic product. If that isn't one of the pillars of the 21st Century idea of American Exceptionalism,...