Changes

Amish live "[[off-the-grid]]" without use of electricity, which [[liberal]]s ostensibly prefer yet hypocritically rarely do themselves, and even impose regulations making it difficult to live this way.  Amish do not participate in [[Social Security]] (they obtained an exemption due to their religious beliefs) and also generally do not attend school beyond 8th grade but continue to learn by reading throughout their lives.  Their ancestors were [[German]]-speaking [[Swiss]] who arrived in eastern [[Pennsylvania]] in the 1700s, and more came over in the 1800s.  The now-largest Amish settlement (148 large families today) west of the [[Mississippi River]] was from [[Switzerland]] to Kolona in southeastern [[Iowa]], in 1846.<ref name="Trib">https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-08-09-8801210505-story.html</ref>  Many Amish people speak [[Pennsylvania Dutch]], a dialect of [[German language|German]].

Amish live "[[off-the-grid]]" without use of electricity, which [[liberal]]s ostensibly prefer yet hypocritically rarely do themselves, and even impose regulations making it difficult to live this way.  Amish do not participate in [[Social Security]] (they obtained an exemption due to their religious beliefs) and also generally do not attend school beyond 8th grade but continue to learn by reading throughout their lives.  Their ancestors were [[German]]-speaking [[Swiss]] who arrived in eastern [[Pennsylvania]] in the 1700s, and more came over in the 1800s.  The now-largest Amish settlement (148 large families today) west of the [[Mississippi River]] was from [[Switzerland]] to Kolona in southeastern [[Iowa]], in 1846.<ref name="Trib">https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-08-09-8801210505-story.html</ref>  Many Amish people speak [[Pennsylvania Dutch]], a dialect of [[German language|German]].

The Amish are the fastest growing religion in the United States, doubling every 20 years.<ref>https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-01/why-the-amish-population-is-exploding#:~:text=But%20according%20to%20a%20new,in%201989%20of%20about%20100%2C000.</ref> The Amish population is growing so fast that each year some families move out to acquire more farmland.  They are highly successful financially and morally.  By 2050 the Amish are expected to attain 1 million in total population in the [[United States]], and by 2222 the Amish could be the majority in the U.S.<ref>By doubling its population every 20 years, the Amish population would increase by 1024 times in 200 years.</ref>  The largest Amish communities are in [[Pennsylvania]], where the Amish population exceeded 84,000 as of 2021 and is growing at more than 3% annual rate.

The Amish are the fastest growing religion in the United States, doubling every 20 years.<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-08-01/why-the-amish-population-is-exploding#:~:text=But%20according%20to%20a%20new,in%201989%20of%20about%20100%2C000. Why the Amish Population Is Exploding]</ref> The Amish population is growing so fast that each year some families move out to acquire more farmland.  They are highly successful financially and morally.  By 2050 the Amish are expected to attain 1 million in total population in the [[United States]], and by 2222 the Amish could be the majority in the U.S.<ref>By doubling its population every 20 years, the Amish population would increase by 1024 times in 200 years.</ref>  The largest Amish communities are in [[Pennsylvania]], where the Amish population exceeded 84,000 as of 2021 and is growing at more than 3% annual rate.

The hit movie [[Witness (film)|"Witness" (1985)]] is a highly accurate, respectful portrayal of the Amish that was filmed on location in the [[Philadelphia]] area.

The hit movie [[Witness (film)|"Witness" (1985)]] is a highly accurate, respectful portrayal of the Amish that was filmed on location in the [[Philadelphia]] area.