lynsey addario, photographer

American Road

Countryside around Newtown, Iowa, about 30 miles from Des Moines, September 30, 2011.
   
Texans have dinner at Rudy's Country Store and BBQ in Laredo, Texas, while ceremonies to commemorate the ten year anniversary of September 11th play, along with Sunday night football of Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets play on the screens around the restaurant, in Laredo, Texas, September 11, 2011.
   
Customs and Border control agents patrol the Rio Grande River between the banks of Mexico and the United States in Laredo, Texas, September 13, 2011. As political debates for potential presidential candidates heat up, illegal immigration from across the border in Mexico is one reoccurring topic on the table.
     
  
Customs and Border control agents patrol the Rio Grande River between the banks of Mexico and the United States in Laredo, Texas, September 13, 2011.
  
A lower class American family watches television in public housing projects in Laredo, Texas, September 13, 2011.
  
Employees work at their computers at Dachis group, a social business consulting a start-up venture capital company, in Austin, Texas, September 13, 2011. Despite the depressed economy across the country, start-up venture capitals like Sparefoot are flourishing in Austin.
     
  
Families comb through the remains of their homes, which were burned down in the Texas forest fires outside of Austin, Texas, September 13, 2011.
  
Throngs of people attend the Austin City Limits music festival to listen to Fitz and the Tantrums and Stevie Wonder, among other artists in Austin, Texas, September 17, 2011.
   
Throngs of people attend the Coldplay concert at the Austin City Limits music festival to listen to Coldplay, Kayne West, among other artists in Austin, Texas, September 17, 2011.
     
  
Young girls at Austin City Limits music festival. September 17, 2011
   
The Patriot Party, an offshoot of the Tea Party, meets at Big Jakes BBQ in Texarkana, Arkansas. September 20, 2011
   
Four States Fair in Texarkana, Arkansas, September 20, 2011.
     
  
A young girl during an animal competition at the Faulkner County Fair in Conway, Arkansas. September 22, 2011
   
A gun display at the Four States Fair in Texarkana, Arkansas. September 20, 2011
   
Iraq veteran, Anthony Smith, shows off the injuries he sustained when he was hit by a rocket propelled grenade in 2004 in Taji, Iraq, while at home in Blytheville, Arkansas, September 23, 2011.
     
  
A young man walks past an advertisement for the Marines at the Four States Fair in Texarkana, Arkansas. September 20, 2011
   
Destruction still litters the streets after the May 2011 tornado which leveled a swath of the city of Joplin, Missouri, September 23, 2011.
  
A man searches through the destruction left behind after the May 2011 tornado which leveled a swath of the city of Joplin, Missouri. September 23, 2011
     
  
A resident of Joplin, Missouri walks through the destruction left behind after the May 2011 tornado. September 23, 2011
   
Rachel Platt, 16, attends a service at the College Heights Christian Church, sings and prays before preaching in Joplin, Missouri, September 25, 2011.
  
Ian Moody, 22, from Port Arthur, Texas, blows fire during a Cannabis revival festival in Joplin, Arkansas, September 23, 2011.
     
  
A Sunday church service in the storm-devastated town of Joplin, Missouri. September 23, 2011
   
Adult Superstore in Newton, Iowa. September 30, 2011
   
Gov. Mike Beebe, a Democratic Governor with an approval rating around 67%, is photographed in the Governor's mansion in Little Rock, Arkansas, September 21, 2011.
     
  
Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann speaks in Cedar Rapids, Iowa during a Team Bachmann rally, S
   
Supporters listen to Bachmann speaking in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. September 26, 2011
   
United States Republican Candidate Ron Paul holds a town hall meeting at the Riverview Center in Muscatine, Iowa. September 27, 2011
     
  
Newt Gingrich unveiled his 21st Century Contract With America before the Des Moines Principal Financial Group. September 29, 2011
   
Students pray in small groups and altogether during See You At the Pole, an annual student prayer event, at Des Moines Christian School, in Urbandale, Iowa, September 28, 2011.
  
Farmer Stan Schmidt, 62 rides his tractor home through the corn fields in Homestead, Iowa.
     
  
A car passes an Amish horse and buggy near Newtown, Iowa. September 30, 2011
   
A farmer in Homestead, Iowa. September 28, 2011
   
Countryside around Newtown, Iowa, about 30 miles from Des Moines. September 30, 2011
     
  
Countryside around Newtown, Iowa, about 30 miles from Des Moines. September 30, 2011