The American Worker is Alive and Well, or at least not as bad as we thought

This article from the Washington Post is the perfect piece to help us understand the current status of the American worker. It shouldn't be surprising, but there is a lot of promise. Where there has been pain and job loss, there have been some interesting gains. Most interesting for the community college teacher and student is the role that community colleges have played in helping workers get to the next - and higher - level. The last sentence points out just how interconnected and confusing the globalized world has become:

the efficiency of the machines that have eliminated jobs at its plants has allowed Glen Raven to pay the remaining workers enough to afford cars, health care and homes. Some of those homes boast patios and lawns now shaded by sun umbrellas made in China using fabric woven just down the road.

The entire article is worth reading. America is alive and well. Here's another guy who agrees. As Achenbach points out, negativity flows freely from both sides of the political spectrum. Still, all good things do not necessarily need to come to an end.