Redefining the american small town: Community governance

Contemporary small town America is at the crossroads. Even with the persistance of poverty, most people see rural, small town America as the place they would like to reside. A key attraction is the ideological belief that the American Dream is still in place. Indeed, for many, it is the place where everyone has his or her say and where equal opportunity to succeed is still operative. As part of our colonial heritage, these small town beliefs are part of our enduring political cultural character and may be the civic ethos needed for redefining our nationʹs Sense of Mission.