The Big Idea for Middle America: Think Small

There's a common sentiment, especially among people who remember the halcyon mid-century, that the middle class and middle America have been hollowed by globalization. That may be true. If so, it's great news for younger Americans -- because thanks to those same forces of globalization, the hollowed-out communities in the middle of the country are now attractive places to build a life.

For those who got to enjoy their high wages, factory towns surely provided a lot of economic benefits. But with the benefit of hindsight, we can see how unsustainable the whole relationship was. The factories and their manufacturing jobs were the only reason the towns existed. Without the factories there wasn't enough economic activity to sustain the towns, and workers with options moved elsewhere.