[Teacher317]

A problem arises as the government buys more and more land (with our money), making less and less land available to an ever-expanding population. The government, predictably, responds with legislation (against 'sprawl', restrictive zoning, etc) that makes America more urban than rural, at an ever-increasing rate... and urban areas are not exactly known as bastions of freedom (gotta restrict that freedom "for the good of the community" you see).

[B Knotts]

Exactly right. We get further away from Jefferson's ideal every day.

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, if we are to have ever increasing population, I for one am happy to set some places aside now. Unbridled sprawl is not the country I want to live in.