As usual, Asheville-area business leaders were presented with a cheery interpretation of the still-rather-sorry state of the local economy.

The remarks —  as always, accentuating the positive — were provided by economists James Smith and Tom Tveidt at the 13th annual Asheville Metro Economy Outlook on Aug. 24 in downtown Asheville’s Diana Wortham Theatre.

The event was offered by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Coalition — and the main host was Parsec Financial, for which Smith is the chief economist.

While it laudible that the chamber’s EDC made the effort to hold the event, which was preceded by “networking” with hors d’oevres,  and Parsec (a local wealth management firm) helped to pay the bills (along with other hosts), we wonder how useful it is — year after year  to hear economic updates loaded with positive spin.

Surely, there must be real or imagined pressure on Smith, who is nationally — if not internationally — recognized for his skills as an economist, and Tveidt, president of the local firm SYNEVA Economics and a former Asheville chamber official, to provide rosy messages of hope, along with accurate forecasts, at such forums.

That these “happy talk” forums are becoming a bit of a lark to the business community was shown by the paucity of questions after the presentations.

For the sake of balance, we think it would better serve the business community to include a third economist who is also reputed for accuracy, but who holds a decidedly more somber view of what is going on — and the possible catastrophic ramifications.