[Publius]

The tree sheltered Eddie as a child and the discovery that it was actually rotten at the core and was going to fail sooner or later is a metaphor for our society.

Your statement jogged something in my memory. A few years ago, FReeper RobRoy, who is a member of our Puget Sound FReeper Chapter, once described the vista of downtown Seattle as seen from his office as a veneer of sparkle and glitter with nothing but corruption underneath. I'm paraphrasing, but I think I've captured the sentiment. That ties into your interpretation of the tree and also the unrepaired spire.

[RobRoy]

You pretty much nailed it.

I consider our current western culture to be a gold plated garbage can.

Publius, how the heck are you?!

We should get together before I move to central Kentucky.