The first investigative analysis of how corporate interests gained control of America's most popular winter sport, and how they are gutting ski towns, the natural mountain environment, and skiing itself in the desperate search for short-term profit.

Awaken America depicts a new visualization of what America accomplished during the past 225-years of its childhood and what the young-adult phase of the American dream could be in the 3rd Millennium. Starting with an Allegory about a fictitious Tribe called The-People-Of-The-Eagle, who together team-up to regain both lost values and prosperity, Awaken America continues with high hopes for America’s future. That bright future can surely light up the way for a world of freedom, democracy, prosperity, intense competition without strife or war, personal creativity, innovation, political stability and environmental stability. These “New Ideas and New Ideals” are best summarized as follows: NEW IDEALS WEAKNESSES vs. STRENGTHS Buyer Loyalty: Overseas Products vs. American Products Buyer Demand: Complacent Consumers vs. Demanding Buyers Competition: Existing Wealth vs. New Wealth R&D: Exporting Technology vs. Developed At Home Trade: Weak and Dependent vs. Strong Negotiating Leverage Capital: Indebtedness vs. Solvency Rewards & Acclaim: Entertainers vs. Innovators Planning: Quick Profits vs. Long-Range Plans Litigation: Greedy Adversaries vs. Trust Between People Peer Pressure: Government Action vs. People Action Democracy: Corruption vs. Freedom Voting: Apathy vs. Enhancing Democracy Political Action: Tilted Playing Field vs. Fair Competition People Values: Material Things vs. People Income Taxes: Inequality vs. Equality Inheritance: Values vs. Wealth Terrorism: Passive Acceptance vs. Active Deterrent

This book will change the way Americans think about their cities. It provides a comprehensive economic and social history of urban America since 1950, covering the 29 largest urban areas of that period. Specifically, the book covers 17 cities in the Northeast, 6 in the South, and 6 in the West, decade by decade, with extensive data and historical narrative. The author divides his analysis into three periods - urban growth (1950 to 1970), urban crisis (late 1960s to 1990), and urban rebirth (since 1990). He draws on the concepts of the vicious circle and the virtuous circle to offer the first in-depth explanation for the transition from urban crisis to urban rebirth that took place in the early 1990s. "Urban America" is both a message of hope and a call to action for students and professionals in urban studies. It will inspire readers to concentrate on finding ways and means to ensure that the urban rebirth will continue.