[hedgetrimmer]

My concern is that when conservatives start defending the status quo as the "free market," we box ourselves into a corner.

I don't think anyone has done that on this thread. But there have been a few posters who insist that living in high density mixed use situations is peachy keeno boss, while studies show most Americans don't want to live like that. It has been explained that the goverment will coopt the building permits that are issued on a limited basis, so that the only kind of housing that gets built is as described above, and the individual hoping to build a private home on a little piece of land cannot compete with the government for those building permits.

When the only housing built is the high density properties you describe, and they are funded by taxpayers because the free market does not support that kind of development its true that this is a fairly recent development. People leave cities because they don't like the noise, crime, congestion and because they can build personal wealth by owning property instead of renting an apartment, they can raise families in a way that the children have access to the outdoors and fresh air without going to a public facility or park, and they have less impact on the environment because they are spread out, what's not to like about getting out of the cities?

[texastoo]

Very interesting article and responses. Thanks for the ping. So far I haven't seen anything like this that has been mentioned here in south Texas but I wil keep my eye out for it.

[djreece]

I understood your very first post to say that we currently have a free market in housing. If I misunderstood, I'm sorry.

In general, you sound like a country person who doesn't understand that there are people who simply enjoy living in the city because of the vitality, the culture, the ability to get around without a car, and the wealth of job opportunities. When you mentioned earlier that it might be pleasant to live and work on a ranch, it made me smile because frankly a lot of city people find the smells of a ranch pretty off putting. People are different. There should be room in America for people to be able to choose what they want from among vibrant and healthy cities, towns, villages, suburbs, and country life.

I would also submit that the cities are full of crime and congestion because of decades of zoning and redevelopment that have split the cities into business districts, shopping districts, and residential districts. Whereas historically, cities were often made up of street-level shops and businesses with people living above and were safe and vibrant places because lots of people were always around. Government ruined that. Many people don't flee the city because they hate city life. They flee the chaos government created. In addition, current development methods soon bring the very thing they were fleeing to them once again. And so the cycle goes.

I would also like to see the studies about most Americans wanting to live in the suburbs. If the choice is presented as living in the ruins of government's hubris of yesteryear versus a shiny new suburb, then of course they will say the suburb. On the other hand, given options that include a community where you can walk to work, walk to the corner grocery store, hit a bookstore, and then go home and walk the dogs in a vibrant, safe community, I would expect that many Americans would like that choice.

What's not to like about getting out of the cities is that job opportunities are typically very limited. So many times the price of that life is hours in gridlock. I know too many Californians that never get to enjoy their piece of the country because of the commute they have to endure.