Welcome to Main Street
Main Street is a state of mind. It’s a place where people come together, each on their way to their own destination. It’s where businesses are centered, at least metaphorically, on the individuals in the community. In fact, it’s the very center of the community. Or at least it should be.
More importantly, Main Street is a symbol of civil society in America. You behave yourself when you’re on Main Street and you give others space to live their lives. If you act up there, you had better have a good reason. Parades and protests are centered there because that’s what America is all about. But most of the time it’s just people getting along.
Sadly, many communities are losing their Main Street. People are turning to the internet for everything, from shopping to finding community. What are we left with when Main Street is vacant? Where is the heart of our community and our nation? Where do people go and what do they find there? Can we get it back?
It’s also important to remember that Main Street hasn’t always been a welcoming place for everyone. Many towns didn’t allow non-white residents, conformity was prized, and “Americana” can be exclusionary even today. But things are changing, and that’s why I feel comfortable using this as my central metaphor. My Main Street welcomes everyone.
This is a political blog focused on Main Street issues. It’s not intended to be Democrat-leaning, though I imagine lots of readers will see it that way. The sad truth is, the Republican Party has forgotten Main Street to focus on culture wars and personal grudges. But I’m not going to be kind to Democrats either, since they can’t seem to figure out how to connect with regular people anymore.
Through it all, I hope to present a reasonable view of how government can help people and society to move forward. I believe that this has to start at the community and “trickle up” to our nation as a whole. When people feel secure in their lives and communities, it will transform all of society. Welcome to Main Street!
