WEEKLY THOUGHTS

Here is something that caught our eye this week: Marienthal In 1928, Marienthal, Austria was a bustling, albeit small, town of 478 families. The entire town was employed by the local textile factory and sociological reports from the time detail a vibrant community in all regards: “Residents socialized, enjoyed the town’s manicured parks, and belonged to numerous social clubs. Weekends were dedicated to church, family outings, and evening dances.” What makes Marienthal unique, however, is what happened just two years later. By 1930, the factory had shut down completely and all 1,486 people of Marienthal were unemployed simultaneously, creating what