I just wanted to recommend this article on stock market investing. The article talks about how the best time to buy stocks for much less than they're worth is when the economy is down. Just to drive the point home, the author likens it to the way airfare was undervalued in the wake of 9/11. What's more, the flights were actually safer at that time. (As an aside, he could have mentioned that the flights would also have been extremely roomy -- but I guess that's not really an essential point to make.)
The economy is suffering right now, but that's actually a good thing if you're playing the stock market. It's a good time to make a potential killing later down the road.