The US economy is still recovering from the recent “great recession”. People have been debating about this recovery: “Are we out yet?; how long will it take?; we could have been but the recent government policies have prevented it; no without the help of the government, it could have been worse, and so on….” 

Also see these:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2014/01/01/cnbc-recovery-slowed-economy/4222929/

 (Links to an external site.)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/the-7-year-slump-why-the-global-economy-cant-seem-to-get-started/article22611665/
 (Links to an external site.)

Your friend is asking: “You are taking economics course, right; could you tell me if we are out of the recession, where we are, and what needs to be done?, who will do what?, are we doomed?”
In any event, do you think you could share your ideas, thoughts, concerns (think like an economist)?