Saturday, July 7, 2012

It’s Okay in Small Town America

The picture in the United States isn’t all that encouraging right now.
We have elevated unemployment, trillions of dollars in debt, and a political establishment that seems more concerned with petty and moronic election year politics than actually doing anything to help the American people. 
Add in a scorching heat wave that has turned crops to dust and made the air conditioner a twenty four hour accessory and one is tempted to conclude that things suck in America right now.
I went to a 4th of July celebration last night in Kirkland IL. Amid the carnival rides and carny food trailers there were people, laughing, smiling, and having a great time of it.
Now, either all of those people are real good at plastering on smiles or just maybe things aren’t quite as bad as the media portray them.
 Based on what I saw last night, small town America, may be hurt, but they are not defeated. It is in these small town celebrations that I find the greatest hope for America’s future because as America’s shallow corporate culture quakes with uncertainty, small town American values never flinch.
It is by rediscovering our values as a people and a country that we will ultimately weather this storm. Not through fancy bailout packages and political rhetoric.

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