John Mellencamp has never been shy about expressing his political views. So, it should come as no surprise that his latest video, for the sober anthem "Troubled Land," is full of imagery that captures the current state of his beloved America.

"Troubled Land" is one of many touching and personal songs on Life, Death, Love And Freedom. Released just before the election, the video takes the viewer through scenes of small town America today: a man on a street corner swings a "Foreclosure" sign, a gas pump ticks up higher and higher, war protesters line a sidewalk.

And just to make sure he's got your attention right from the start, the video opens with reverse footage of a burning fabric. As the footage winds backward, it is revealed to be the American flag -- using the polarizing image of a burning flag reconstituting to illustrate healing and rebirth, suggesting the land can be fixed, America can not be destroyed.

During the recent presidential campaign, Mellencamp recorded a radio spot for then-candidate Barack Obama, which said, "I've seen a lot of small towns, and now I'm seeing small towns across America dying." He knows the horrible thing about the state of our country is that, no matter what your political views are, we're all affected by it.

To hammer home the idea that the country is not lost, the video ends with a baby exploring the American flag -- a symbol of our future and a symbol of our country.

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