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Old 03-22-2011, 09:33 PM
JeffBorn JeffBorn is offline
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I've read Leisureville a couple of months ago and found it more than mostly entertaining with some observations by the author in my opinion quite flawed and believe that a part of his view point was preconceived. He begins that his home is in a Norman Rockwellian New England town. I've visited Stockbridge MA and had a wonderful time in this tourist orieneted town with large homes and the quaint home of the Norman Rockwell museum. However it may be one of the last places I would describe as the cross section of American society which the author so forcefully feels must be preserved. There was not much diversity to be seen and it certainly was not representative of the lifestyle across the U.S. I would enjoy visiting a town meeting that presented an affordable housing development and see just how caring the community would find the proposal. It is a quaint small tourist oriented town. His assertions that TV is segregation in several forms is at best turning a blind eye to all communities age segregated or otherwise. Income ability plays a role in the make up of every community and enviable or not excludes those that can not attain what is required. In my opinion the Morse family had a vision and continues to carry it out very well to the benefit and satisfaction of those that share that vision. I've yet to find anything perfect but to begrudge a successful individual or generations of a family to enjoy the fruits of their labor is at best ludicrous. Pointing out the large white area that is Morse property in the middle of the map is ridiculous. They most likely could choose to live anywhere they desired but enjoy the center of their family's creation. The book has very colorful characters and I enjoyed the author's interesting observations and experiences. Although we do not share the same conclusions. Unfortunately in my opinion on the surface the up and coming generations view the aging demographic in our society with increasing less value. About to turn 60 it appears to me that authority is respected not necesarily age. That said I plan to read the book again.