I share your sense of amazement, but for a differnet reason.
The stock market is up nominally, after a huge drop. A Bush era drop. Bush had a plan to prop the market up: TARP. Followed by Stimulus+Stimulus+Operation Twist+more to come. (The latter brought to us by a democrat controlled congress and president Obama)
The market is up when compared to 08/09, but only nominally. The inflation that doesn't exist
, along with the devaluation of currency make any nominal gains into window dressing.
What is amazing is how Americans tolerated the propping up of failed business models with taxpayer dollars (our children's wealth, more accurately) taken in debt and by the devaluation of currency.
But hey!, nominal gains paint a rosy picture!