r/newengland

July 4th, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States approving the Declaration of Independence, which would later be officially signed by all but one of the original 13 colonies one month later on August 2, 1776. This is a monumental day in the history of this country, a date that I’ve looked forward to growing up as someone who is a bit of a geography and history nerd and takes pride in where I grew up and is also a general fan of some satisfying math.

Growing up in the US, I was always taught about how we are the greatest country in the world and the “land of the free,” and that I could do anything I want as part of living the American Dream; which I took great pride in as a kid seeing fireworks each year or watching the Olympics as I root for my nation’s athletes on the international stage and heard the Star-Spangled Banner ring out whenever we won a Gold medal, among other things. I truly thought I was living in the greatest country in the world.

As I grow older, however, I have only realized more with each passing year that this country I live in does not truly stand for my ideals and values, does not foster a positive supportive environment for all to live in, or even stand for the freedom that was drilled into my head growing up. This started LONG before the current administration just to be clear, in fact I believe the current president is just the final result of what has been a completely broken system for decades at this point. Then I look to other nations across the world and see genuine community support for all, thoughtful and meaningful education systems, and a true and genuine freedom that is protected and even defended tooth and nail.

I do believe though that the US did once have something to stand up for. From roughly 1933 with the signing of the New Deal up until the 1970s when Nixon began the slow process of slashing FDR’s longstanding policies, the American Dream was a true reality that once made it the greatest country in the world. It was a place where people from all walks of life wanted to build a family in (albeit with quite a bit of racism). During this period, Social Security was established, college was virtually free, home ownership was feasible on a single person’s salary, the 40hr workweek and worker protection laws were established, the rich were taxed at 79%+, the US was affordable, and the massive Baby Boom generation was the result of the unprecedented stability of the nation during this time period. It wasn't perfect, but it was a building block that could have been fine tuned to this very day.

However, in the past 50yrs, it has become abundantly clear that America has fully lost its way with corruption, endless wars, violence, and a culture war fueled by social media algorithms and a leadership on both sides that refuses to do anything about it. We are a deeply divided country full of people living in three or four entirely separate realities created by and profited off of greed and a refusal to stand with or support the hundreds of millions of Americans from all walks of life that call this country home.

As a result, I have a very hard time feeling anything but embarrassment and shame to call myself an American in its current state. So it is for this reason that I am choosing to celebrate my home in New England and my identity as a New Englander on this July 4th rather than the country it happens to be a part of. I take great pride in where I grew up and have always loved supporting and learning about anything that comes from these 6 beautiful states; from history, to arts, music, food, and culture.

Massachusetts (which included Maine at the time) is where the fight for independence started when Boston overthrew the British governor of the Massachusetts colony way back in 1689, which led to numerous conflicts in the region including the Boston Massacre of 1770 and the Boston Tea Party of 1773, when Bostonians dumped more than $1.7m worth of tea in today’s money into the Boston Harbor. Eventually Massachusetts would become the battleground for the earliest parts of the Revolutionary War in Lexington and Concord and were leaders in the fight throughout the revolution.

Connecticut, known as the Constitution State, is often credited as the state where American democracy was formed as the earliest drafts of what would eventually become the US Constitution were signed here way back in 1639. During the Revolution, Connecticut would play an often overlooked role as the Provisions State due to its rich agriculture and manufacturing that provided the Continental army with the majority of supplies during wartime, especially in the north. After the war, the Connecticut delegation would introduce the Connecticut Compromise that would eventually establish the separated House of Representation and Senate to give smaller states proper representation in Congress.

Rhode Island, often the rebellious colony compared to its neighbors, is credited with igniting the Revolution in 1772 when a small group of Rhode Islanders burned down a large British Naval ship in the Narragansett Bay, becoming known as the Gaspee Affair. The increased tensions would eventually lead to all-out war in the following years. After the war, Rhode Island would play a critical role in securing freedom of speech and religion as rights when they outright refused to sign the Constitution unless both were guaranteed, which at the time was quite controversial. Rhode Island would eventually become the last of the original 13 colonies to sign the Constitution nearly 3 years after Delaware was first to sign in 1787.

Like CT, New Hampshire played a provisionary role in the Revolution, offering troops, ships, and other supplies to the war efforts and specifically playing a vital role in the Battle of Bunker Hill. Before the war though, New Hampshire was notably the first colony to declare independence from the Brits and even signed its own Constitution into law in January of 1776. After the war, New Hampshire was the deciding state that would officially make the US Constitution the law of the land when they were the 9th state to sign in the spring of 1788.

Lastly, while not one of the original 13 colonies, Vermont was actually briefly an unrecognized independent nation for 14yrs from 1777 until its admission as the 14th state in 1791. During this period, Vermont would become the first state in the Americas to ban slavery and give all men the right to vote, no matter their class; something that was considered extremely progressive for the time. Despite its independence, Vermont did play a role in the Revolution when the Green Mountain Boys quietly captured Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York in the middle of the night without a single casualty in 1775, marking one of the first major victories in the early Revolutionary War effort.

New England is the true spirit of the United States and everything it stands for in its truest form. The rich history of this region is why we call ourselves Americans in the first place. Despite our differences as a nation, the United States was formed on fierce independence against unfair rule, fascism, and taxation without representation, something that we should all remember at times when history repeats itself. Thank you and Happy 250th New England!

Is there anything more New England than this?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice on finding stable work in Massachusetts. I have experience in basic construction, demolition, fence installation, and non-CDL junk removal.

Unfortunately, I injured my knee at a previous job, so I can’t do a lot of heavy lifting (over 50 lbs) or jobs that put constant strain on my knees. I’m hoping to find something that pays around $150–175 per day, even if it means working 12-hour shifts. I’m mainly looking for entry-level opportunities because I don’t have any certifications yet, and I can’t currently afford the courses I’d like to take.

I’m also helping support my elderly mother and my younger brother, so I’m trying to find a stable career with reliable hours. Because of my previous experiences, I’m not looking to return to fast food, retail, food delivery, hospice, or other medical-related jobs.

I’m a fast learner, work hard, and genuinely want to build a career in a field that’s in demand. I’ve already applied for warehouse receiving and manufacturing positions but haven’t heard anything back yet. I’d really appreciate any suggestions for industries or jobs you think I should look into, especially work that’s available year-round. Winters are pretty harsh where I live, so I’d love to find something that stays busy regardless of the season.

I’d also appreciate any general financial advice. Is there a legitimate way to reduce the amount taken out of a paycheck through taxes or deductions? For example, are there situations where working as a 1099 contractor makes sense, or are there other legal strategies that have worked well for you? I’m just trying to be smart with my finances while supporting my family.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I truly appreciate any advice or suggestions you can share, and I wish you all the best.

I've been developing a free community resource platform called Gather, and I'd love to get honest feedback before continuing to expand it.
Gather is designed to make it easier for people to find help when they need it most. Using your current location, it displays nearby food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, emergency housing, healthcare and urgent care, addiction recovery services, crisis support, clothing assistance, and other nonprofit or public assistance organizations in one place.

But Gather is intended to be much more than a resource directory. One of its core features is helping reduce food waste while getting more food to people who need it. Grocery stores can subscribe to the platform and quickly post surplus food that would otherwise be discarded. Nearby food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and other aid organizations receive alerts so they can claim and coordinate pickup of available donations before they go to waste. All Subscription proceeds are intended to benefit Partnership to End Addiction.

Gather also includes a community support system that allows aid organizations to create public wish lists of the supplies they need most—everything from hygiene products and diapers to blankets, cleaning supplies, and other essentials. Individuals experiencing hardship can submit requests for needed items through participating organizations. When a donor purchases those items, they are shipped directly to a participating aid organization for local pickup, providing a simple and organized way to connect donors with people in need.
For people who simply want to help their community, Gather also provides an easy way to purchase essential supplies for individuals experiencing homelessness or financial hardship through participating organizations, allowing donors to contribute tangible items where they're needed most.

My goal is to build a platform that not only helps people locate assistance, but also strengthens connections between donors, nonprofits, grocery stores, volunteers, and the communities they serve.
The project is still actively being developed, and I'd really appreciate constructive feedback.

If you work with a nonprofit, grocery store, healthcare organization, or community program, would something like this be useful?

Whether you're a developer, someone who works in the nonprofit sector, or simply someone who wants to help others, I'd genuinely appreciate your perspective.

You can check it out here:
https://live-gather.org

Thanks for taking the time to look it over. Every piece of feedback helps move the project closer to becoming a genuinely useful tool for communities.

Asking because both are quite densely populated — MA’s density is mostly concentrated around Boston of course, while CT’s is spread throughout the central and southwest parts. MA has The Berkshires and Pioneer Valley in the west, and these are about as “rural New England” as it gets. Though CT’s rural
areas are quite scenic too, perhaps surprisingly so.

Last minute, but the club we were planning to go to tonight turns out to be closed temporarily!!! Any good club recommendations within a 40 minute drive of willimantic, CT? Clean, friendly, good mixed crowd, DJ, etc.. ???

Hello all! I am planning a Bach for 7 guys all from TX and we are hooked on going to NE , we are really into bar hopping and night life as well as foodies ( who isn’t haha). I’ve read so far great recommendations such as Portland , Newport, providence, and Boston. The kind of vibe we are looking for is somewhere we can drink and eat all day and party all night. Not really into hiking at all and would like to focus on more inner city places. Any suggestions/ recommendations/ advice is appreciated!!

https://preview.redd.it/91cq7bzcvtah1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=68f58286843f0455f84d0fbbd91aee1d80064801

Hey everyoneeee!!!! 💖

I'm an RI native DJ, and I'm throwing my going-away party, Bimboism! ✨ Tickets are available on Posh VIP.

It's a femme-forward dance party that's LGBTQ+ friendly, and I'd love to celebrate one last unforgettable night with all of you. Come make my send-off extra special and dance the night away with me! 💃🪩💖

To clarify I have been working in food service/restaurants since 2014 I have my ServSafe and I'm trying for a $18 to $20 an hour job due to experience. If anyone can provide any direct leads it would be greatly appreciated.

From 2014 to 2018 I worked in dish at a pizza restaurant

From 2019 to 2021 I worked at a grocery store as overnight stock for a year and then did dish, prep, labeling, putting out food, food waste control by composting and recycling, and ended up helping out as the product load technician and they asked me if wanted to be line cook several times but I turned them down because I was moving

From 2022 I did dish again but switched to a cashier and cook/drinks from the end of 22 to 2024

From 2025 I did dish again but was also a server at a senior center

From 2025 to earlier this year I worked at a BBQ restaurant with acai, plating BBQ plates, and catering recipes/plating

And finally earlier this year I was a cashier and drink maker at a cafe.