UPSIDE TO DOWNSIDE: In the economic storm, the harsh wind blows the weak leaves off furniture’s tree

Cheer up, furniture bunkies, the weaklings are dying. Just don’t be one of them. Yes, the bittersweet truth is this rotten economy is delivering the bluntly wrapped gift of severe adjustment.

The rude, welcome cleansing removes the weak and refreshes the wary but strong survivalists.

Attribute the current discomfort to the smack and slap of Adam Smith’s invisible hand at play and work. Unpleasant but necessary harsh economic forces are forcing the weakest to disappear and strengthening the strong merchants and manufacturers.

This is good pain. Compression may have a silver lining, with the elimination of the me-too, knock-off low-ballers in a deadly race to the bottom. Say Kaddish — traditional Jewish prayer to honor the dead — for them and live strong.

Tempered by the most intense challenge yet, survivors are better off for overcoming the economic travail. The lessons learned, if they are at all, will fortify the survivors and teach savvy new entrants how to be prepared and overcome crippling and decimating adversity.

Yes, the current mercantile condition can be characterized as a conflict, but not as some facile war and peace scenario where military platitudes are used as ammunition.

This economic conflict is all about overcoming adversity with W.A.R. all right. Winning now demands the precise use of well-crafted ammunition produced to deliver positively explosive force from Wisdom, Attitude and Resiliency.

For greatest impact, success emerges under the disciplined command of leaders relying on thoughtful W.A.R. planning instead of untrained and reactionary tactics.

If the troops need reinforcement for W.A.R., then send them to the High Point Market where the mercantile ammunition is stronger, more abundant and available than anywhere else, especially at the flashy and expensive desert bivouacs.

Again, the demise of weaklings is a discomforting fact in the short term. But in the long term, the furniture industry is stronger because the strongest and smartest survive.

This is the good news or the upside of the downside.