How have our Amish friends made it so long without oil and big govt? [View All]

[The Straight Story]

Growing up in Ohio, and having lived in Amish country off and on over the years I am in awe at how some folks (the amish and mennonites) have been able to do so well outside of the 'mainstream'.

They seem oblivious to our troubles - from who is running for president to the price of oil.

Is the problem we have that we want to conform too often to other standards and are thus empowering the very things we rail against?

I know (from living here so long) they are not perfect (ie, drugs, alcohol, etc) but it seems to me they are able to get along just fine without our trappings - so I guess I am wondering if we have set our sites too high and become too dependent on some things.

A free life, with folks who think in similar ways, lived out on a land we paid for years ago and are not in debt for. It seems so simple, yet so elusive. No war (they don't join our armed forces), not much use for oil, no desire for being on the power grid or wrecking the environment.

A simple religious folk with one desire, to have a simple life. Maybe we have missed a boat somewhere, or maybe I am just dreaming....