It’s long been said that entrepreneurs are a particularly optimistic bunch—seeing opportunity and a potentially profitable business plan where others don’t. Still, we were surprised by the rosy response to this week’s survey question. Earlier this week we asked whether you thought the economy had hit bottom, and whether we’re on the way back up—or not. Certainly there are some positive signs: the market, while experiencing its share of ups and downs, has had some great days. Layoffs seem to have tapered off, and even the Fed’s Beige Book survey was more optimistic than it’s been in recent months. But are all those signs just tiny blips of light on a dark, dark radar screen?

Nope, you said. All survey respondents this week replied that the economy has hit bottom, and that these small signs of improvement are an indication that things are rebounding. Reader Christyj writes:

“I think we are resilient people and after a while we don’t let the doom and gloom of the economy keep us from moving forward and accomplishing our goals. Eventually things are going to get better.”

Here’s hoping you guys got it right.

It may seem somewhat ironic, on a day where the Dow plummeted to its worst loss since early March, to ask whether you’re optimistic that the crisis has reached its bottom. Still, the national mood recently seems to reflect the idea that the economy is showing ever-so-small signs of improvement. For instance, the Fed’s Beige Book survey—an anecdotal report on economic conditions—was “slightly more optimistic than last month showing that the pace of economic decline may be starting to moderate in some parts of the country,” reported the Wall Street Journal last week. Unemployment numbers also dipped last week, and for the first time in months, fewer people applied for unemployment than in the previous week.

So, for this week’s survey question, we’d like to know what you think about the state of the economy: have we hit bottom yet? Is the worst over? Or are the small bits of positive news simply tiny anomalies amidst a sea of negative signs? It’s not as absurd of a question as it may seem. Consumer confidence is a strong indicator of economic conditions, after all. So with that being said, tell us what you think by clicking to vote below and by leaving your thoughts in the comments section.

Few things are certain when it comes to the economy these days, but at least this much is clear: when it comes to “fixing” the economy, everyone’s got a plan. It seems like all we have to do is flip on the TV or log on to the Internet to hear what yet another person thinks is the best way to solve the nation’s woes. But we’re tired of listening to all the pundits and talking heads blabber about the Main Street vs. Wall Street divide, and their suggestions for fixing the epic fail that is the GM business plan, as well as the myriad of other issues plaguing the country. We’d like to hear what real people think.

So for this week’s survey question (if you can call it that), we’d like to tell us what you think is the best way to fix the economy. We’re taking anything and everything that you’ve got, people. And no, you don’t need a background in econ, nor do you need some special insight into the inner-workings of government to answer this question. We just want to hear what your common sense is telling you. Sound out using the comments section below.

As an entrepreneur sitting on a business plan right now, it’s easy to start feeling serious outrage over how companies like AIG have mishandled government bailout cash—particularly if you’re seeking capital for your own, job-creating start-up business. We’ve spewed plenty of vitriol at banks who’ve, in our opinion, misused cash for employee bonuses and other extras. And it’s hard not to feel a little angry when stories come out like the one today about how JPMorgan Chase is in the process of building a new $18 million private-jet hangar in New York—after it received $25 billion in bailout cash from the Feds.

But has the outrage, vitriol, and hate gone too far? While employee bonuses strike us an egregious use of bailout funds, at the same time, projects like the hangar keep money moving and pay wages for local workers. Where does the legitimate concern and outrage toward banks and firms like AIG end and the witch hunt begin?

Given our own proclivity for throwing barbs at the banks, you may be wondering why we’ve softened up. Blame it on the New York Times. They made a pretty strong argument yesterday (in the Style section?) for the case that the anger has gone just a bit too far:

“Edward M. Liddy, chief executive of A.I.G., read letters to Congress on Wednesday in which company employees were threatened with death by piano wire. Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, suggested bonus recipients commit suicide (later explaining his remark was ‘rhetoric’).

Reader mail sent to The New York Times in response to articles about these executives’ formerly high-flying lives repeatedly mentioned the guillotine and suggested it was time to ‘bring back the tumbrel,’ a crude two-wheeled cart that was used to publicly carry aristocrats toward public execution during the French Revolution.

There is something a little scary about all this rage – and not just to those who are on the receiving end, some of whom have hired security.”

Do you agree? For this week’s survey question, we’d like you to tell us whether Americans are going overboard with the outrage. On one hand, having anger and frustration toward execs who’ve contributed to the economic downturn—and who seemingly continue to rake in the big bucks—is perfectly normal. As Americans, it’s our right to be outraged and to do something about it so the same missteps aren’t made again. But at the same time, has it gotten out of hand? Tell us what you think by clicking to vote in the survey below. Naturally remarks made in the comments section are warmly welcomed as well. That is, unless they’re death threats.