I too live in a small town. Over the past several years the “mood” has slowly dimmed....a defeatist attitude seemed to pervade most small talk.

At the coffee shop, the guy who builds barns (and an occasional house), came in on Monday mornings. He used to fill his thermos and head off to some job, but, over the past few years, he’s stayed for several hours before heading back home.

The grocery store on the square closed three years ago. People got jobs further from here and buy groceries in a bigger town. The folks who got laid off, from various small businesses, moved away. So many are gone; the district closed the grade school and our kids ride the bus fifty minutes one way.

One could site many, many examples of the decline of the attitudes in our community.

Then, we voted in the last presidential election. Nobody dreamed that anything would happen, but, at least we could talk about “trying”.

Since President Trump, the change in attitude is palpable! Optimism is evident; people smiling; eager to talk about positive future plans. A young guy, from right here in town, hired the carpenter and they are remodeling the old grocery store to make it into an archery and gun store. Their business model includes some shrewd online marketing which should draw a regional market.

Yep, we’re pretty happy with the way things are improving....and pray for our president’s continued health and success!

Awee,Rumi...sorry if i insulted you,,,,Ok lets talk...I think your President Obama did a lot of damage to us Lets start with racism..Under Obama we were more divided then ever.He was anti-police, never took officer's side.under President Trump our economy is waaay up, unemployment is waaay down, Dow is at all time high, Tax reform in 30 yrs illegal crossings at the border is all time low.Obama made DACA people suffer by illegal EO instead of let Congress to decide like its supposed to be...African American unemployment is at all time low under President Trump,Then there are Benghazi scandal, IRS scandal, Fast and the Furious scandal all under Obama...I will come back with more later,Rumi..But for now here you go!! Plus President Trump beat Hillary with all her money,celebrities, Dems and Obama backing her up!! He is brilliant!!!

I live in Southern New Mexico in a small town. Our downtown is two blocks long. Every third Friday we have an Art Walk in that area. Over the few years we have had this event, it has steadily evolved. For a while, it was sparsely attended and of a somewhat limited venue. It was originally designed for local artisans to show their wares. But in the past six months it has become much more. And with a far greater attendance. Yet a word here on the population.

This region is ethnically and racially diverse with a long history of cooperative community. All groups seem to openly blend and work together. Of course there are problems but the various cultures here have shown harmony over many decades. On these Friday nights, we now have cultural singers and dancers perform, letting all there participate. A fun addition is the growing participation of cosplay people, even the kids get dressed up. The customs lend this extra element of festiveness. Watching the carefree and happy mingling of parents and children of these various backgrounds and traditions is extremely heartwarming. It is a joy to be there. Then there is the dark cloud of Trump with his racism and xenophobia, his White separatism, steadily moving in this direction to asphyxiate the smiles and laughter and togetherness. Making rifts. Turning people against each other. Ending the joy.

I may be wrong but that is what I see and it seems very real. To be there with these people would make you just as protective and concerned. You would do anything to keep any harm from happening. And that is the bottom line on why I post as much true raw sewerage on Trump on this site. The thought of seeing even those smiles dimmed a bit or their ease stymied a moment is heart-wrenching. I see Trump as a Grinch who loves causing disruption and trouble just because he can. His mindless crusade to make America splinter into warring factions for the sake of some Nationalistic nightmare to end cultural diversity for a dream of dystopian America First White hegemony is hateful.

I live in Southern New Mexico in a small town. Our downtown is two blocks long. Every third Friday we have an Art Walk in that area. Over the few years we have had this event, it has steadily evolved. For a while, it was sparsely attended and of a somewhat limited venue. It was originally designed for local artisans to show their wares. But in the past six months it has become much more. And with a far greater attendance. Yet a word here on the population.

This region is ethnically and racially diverse with a long history of cooperative community. All groups seem to openly blend and work together. Of course there are problems but the various cultures here have shown harmony over many decades. On these Friday nights, we now have cultural singers and dancers perform, letting all there participate. A fun addition is the growing participation of cosplay people, even the kids get dressed up. The customs lend this extra element of festiveness. Watching the carefree and happy mingling of parents and children of these various backgrounds and traditions is extremely heartwarming. It is a joy to be there. Then there is the dark cloud of Trump with his racism and xenophobia, his White separatism, steadily moving in this direction to asphyxiate the smiles and laughter and togetherness. Making rifts. Turning people against each other. Ending the joy.

I may be wrong but that is what I see and it seems very real. To be there with these people would make you just as protective and concerned. You would do anything to keep any harm from happening. And that is the bottom line on why I post as much true raw sewerage on Trump on this site. The thought of seeing even those smiles dimmed a bit or their ease stymied a moment is heart-wrenching. I see Trump as a Grinch who loves causing disruption and trouble just because he can. His mindless crusade to make America splinter into warring factions for the sake of some Nationalistic nightmare to end cultural diversity for a dream of dystopian America First White hegemony is hateful.