Everyone knows that when the economy slows, people lose their jobs. And that's bad. But for those who are employed, a recession can have its benefits. Employees generally work less overtime when business is slow. Instead of working they find time to get a good night's sleep, make time to travel on vacation and, best of all, find more time to relax with family.

A struggling economy also improves national health, especially with regard to food choices. When a family's finances are tight, the last thing they want is to spend $40 on pizza and garlic bread. Instead, they save money by investing in cookbooks and preparing meals at home, which not only saves money but provides a healthier alternative to restaurant food.

New studies by the University of North Carolina - Greensboro have found more evidence that recessions bolster national health. Severe obesity and smoking decline during hard times, resulting in fewer instances of heart disease and cardiac arrest. In fact, for every 1% increase in national unemployment, overall mortality rates drop by .5%.

But the best feature of a recession is obvious: lower gas prices! Back in July when America was working its tail off, the price of gas soared above $4 a gallon. Today, with millions of jobs being slashed, demand for oil has fallen off considerably, bringing gas prices below $1.50 a gallon! That's cheaper than water! Even better, for every 1% rise in unemployment, overall traffic deaths drop by 3%.

What does all this news mean for the 'green' generation? Good times. As industry slows, greenhouse gas emissions decline. A factory with fewer workers produces less CO2 and, as we've already seen, higher unemployment numbers leave fewer cars on the road, also helping to reduce pollution.

See, things aren't so bad after all. We're spending less time at work, eating healthier meals, enjoying lower gas prices and breathing cleaner air. If unemployment numbers weren't skyrocketing, we'd really be in great shape.