My friend Cami, a mostly a political high school student, wrote this."

[nemo137]

"I guess Rockford was actually on PBS because our economy is so bad, so they were using us as an example of what happens when all the manufacturing businesses go overseas.
I'd wondered why it was so desolate, and why we have so many adults working in fast food restaurants.
I mean, common sense. But it never occurred to me before. This place used to have lots of jobs in factories, and then most of them shut down. There're even a few dead factories down the street that I noticed but never thought about.
There's something so depressing about Rockford when you're in the industrial district, and I realized that the footage they got of it captured that depression perfectly. It's a total wasteland. There's nothing for anyone here, particularly the kids.
That we've most certainly noticed. The only coffee shop there was for us was closed down, and bowling alleys are hardly safe anymore.
That's it. Other than that, there's Barnes & Noble, and if you're feeling really daring, the dollar theater.
There's nothing for anyone here. Just old memories that you want to get rid of but can never hope to do so as long as you're here."

It's from her blog. I posted it for two reasons: 1.) because it's a pretty good thumbnail of what it's like being a teen here, and I'd immagine that holds for alot of other places as well and 2.) because it's not just union members and protectionists noticing the economy sucking a bit.

[northofdenali]

1. Because she's your friend, point out that this economy

is entirely Republican. She won't be apolitical for long, if she's writing like this.

[DUreader]

2. good writing, it could well be her ticket out of there