I try to make it over to the Benson Farmer's Market every Saturday morning.  I am there displaying my art for sale.  Along with other vendors, rain or shine, hot weather or not.  These are local business owners are trying to build their businesses.  As an added treat, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, there's always music, most of the time it's traditional folk music.  Sometimes, there are groups that play jazz, or music from the 60s & 70's. 

I believe the middle class America can be rebuilt on the shirt-tail of the Traditional Folk music, Contra dancing, and Art that demonstrates hope, & values.  In history the middle class established it's foundation singing these songs, & creating their own hope.  I believe we can do it again.  The traditional folk music gives us hope, & brings us out of the negativity of recession and stress.  There's something very therapeutic about singing.  The songs are uplifting and sometimes funny which makes us laugh.  Songs that tell a story sometimes teaches a lesson, and sometimes the songs just give us hope to go on when everything seems so bleak.  The song, "Hard Times," comes to mind. 

To rebuild the middle class America will not be easy, but I believe we can do it.  We have done it before and we can do it again.  So bring your banjo, guitar, or just bring your voice out to the farmer's markets all over the US to play a tune, purchase from the vendors, but most of all support local businesses and rebuild middle America.