There is much to admire about the Amish, but I don't in any respect hold them as peculiarly unique role models. I think their pacifism, the very thing that many point to as a virtue, is specifically un-Biblical and borders on irresponsible. But except for that, God bless them and I hope they can continue to live as simply as they wish, while others assume the responsiblity to keep them free.
Role models? I think thing that's the wrong way to look at it. Yes, if all Americans were all to become pacifists the country would not survive. Pacifists need us for protection.
But do we need them?
There are those that say we need to workers from South America to maintain our population and to insure a supply of cheap labor. I think we can do the same thing a lot better by nurturing fundamentalist Christians who are willing to do menial work and have about six kids per family.
I think we need the Amish as much as they need us.