I spent some time in Gatlinburg this week...the redneck riviera. No, I didn't get married but mused a lot about the state of the world as I kept my 8-year-old occupied swimming, watching Disney, eating pancakes, and doing the Gatlinburg "thing". No, I don't stand above or mock this stuff. It's fun.
G-burg caters to our programming from birth to consume and not wonder why. Seek and destroy: waistline and bank balance. A family led by parents who think a party of 8 for mini-golf is a good idea definitely didn't pay attention in Civics class. So it's no wonder, they aren't really listening to Mr. reality TV as he lies about everything and wants to be their dictator. The town needs a vasectomy clinic for sure, but the damage is already done I'm afraid. The "smart" people outsmarted themselves by not kicking out 4 kids each.
It's all a little discouraging to the aging Gen Xer. I fear there will be nothing left to scoff at or be too cool to try in 10 years time. Until then, I'll stop for every rusty dinosaur along I-75 wondering "where have all the good times gone".