It was certainly my impression of America (and Australia) growing up. I am sure Canada was like that as well.

I was taken by the picture because the house and the family reminded me of my cousins who used to live in a small town. The father was a small time business man who made enough money for his wife to stay at home (although she did a great deal of community work) and also to pursue his hobby of flying small aircraft. that sort of lifestyle wasn't exceptional at the time.

I recently drove through there and the place was awash with immigrants, apparently now has a meth problem, and there is urban sprawl everywhere. As I had such fond childhood memories, and have ancestors buried there, it was incredibly distressing.

Even worse is the fact this is happening simultaneously all over the Western world. Every small town is being degraded and wiped out — if not through immigration, then through the massive consolidation of industry and services brought about through the demands of capital.

I am glad these photographs and movies exist, they are like looking back into a fictitious landscape, but it wasn't all that long ago.