“Deb and Jim Fallows tell the story in their book ‘Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America,’ but you can read about it in any local newspaper (those that are left), in the stories of teachers, firefighters, police, bureaucrats, ministers and small business owners getting things done on the regular. Or, you can read about it overseas. In Nicaragua, for example, the selfless people of Covenant House are sheltering kids and families from the violence sweeping the country.”