Saving America one beer and college class at a time

Jim and Deb Fallows have written a book on small towns in the United States, finding a co-operative spirit and optimism that is the opposite of the discouragement and conflict we see at the national level. They spoke at Village Books in Bellingham about their new book, “Our Towns, A 100,000 Journey into the Heart of America” last Wednesday.

Jim Fallows, a writer for Atlantic Monthly and author, and a former speech writer for President Jimmy Carter, imagines that we are in a second “Gilded Age,” like the late 1800s. The “Gilded Age” was Mark Twain’s satirical term for an era of serious social problems marked by a thin veneer of gold gilding. During that time of wealth disparity, there were dispersed reform movements such as civic reform, women’s rights and workers’ rights. These movements eventually achieved critical mass, although it took decades and two world wars.

Our current reform experiments can be seen in art, affordable housing, schools, community colleges and yes, local breweries. Even if the national government is never repaired, local and state initiatives keep culture alive.

The local level still has vitality, Jim says, that’s where there is traction and progress. For example, take Burlington, Vermont, a deeply “progressive” community, and Greenville, S.C, a deeply “conservative community”. These towns are political opposites, yet you can see the same civic engagement and the health of local organizations. Jim contends that local communities are healthy and optimistic about local trends, while the national conversation is dismal.

Deb Fallows, a linguist and writer, spoke of the powerful catalyst that public schools and libraries are – where local assets are highlighted from elementary school through college. Students learn about their land, their local culture and local industries. While research universities are essential for national and international development, community colleges connect students with opportunities locally. Students are looking for promising paths whether it’s farming, fishing or tech. Community and state colleges help solve these puzzles.

The Fallows believe one of the strongest barometers of civic success is small craft breweries. It sounds funny, but this is a sign of a flow of talent from big cities to small towns. Young entrepreneurs have been taking advantage of the deregulation in the late ‘70’s of home brewing –thank you Jimmy Carter. Fresh beer doesn’t travel well, and craft breweries draw young workers and gather young customers, and some old ones. Craft breweries highlight local agriculture and young cooks.

So, let’s take heart that there’s a civic and economic re-invention happening under the radar of national news. Of course, there are complex problems to be solved, yet there are plenty of determined people working at a practical local level and making a difference. Localism can re-make America.

Let’s have a beer and thank our local leaders. And talk about funding the new library for La Conner.