>>I'm just surprised that anyone is still surprised by the structural changes that the American economy is going through<<
This is a "doom, gloom, collapse" thread so there's a fair amount of chatter here about the impending downfall of Team USA. We regularly hear predictions about riots, anarchy, refugees fleeing to Canada or HK, and schemes to hide out on remote islands with piles of gold and survival gear.
Personally, I prefer structural adaptation over the doomsday scenarios. Smaller homes, smaller cars, reduced driving, and more economical food are easy time-honored adjustments.
For example, I live in a suburban area that most consider beyond walking distance to the nearest shopping and restaurants. A local developer recently got special zoning permission to build a mixed unit development nearby that includes six townhouse apartments and a bistro. It's designed with a small parking lot to attract mainly local neighborhood folks who will walk over there to have coffee and quiche, beer and pizza, etc. As an added touch, it's a timber frame building using recycled wooden beams from an old fish cannery. Imagine that, Americans are going to walk somewhere! ;) |
