I have to admit that I was flattered to read my comment quoted at the top! Most of the time when I write Substack comments I don't get any feedback in the form of likes or replies (and I couldn't write clickbait if I wanted to), so it's hard to know for sure when something I write has made an impression.
I'm a late Boomer and a lifelong city dweller and a frustrated progressive, and absolutely do think we need to wait for enough Boomers to retire or die.
I don't say "just" need to, because the removal of a fundamental obstacle does not by itself create progress. Also the above realization is every bit as much about my own "blue" cultural/political tribe as about the "red" one. But, yea.
Also I definitely agree that the fundamental salience of feeling generally safe is white American progressives' most glaring blind spot. For the other side in the political/cultural wars it is a gift that keeps on giving.
Why would a higher class of driver's license be a ban on big pick-up trucks? People who need one or really want one could get the license. Given that they are more dangerous to other road users, shouldn't they require a higher level of responsibility?
There are conspiracies of "against-ers" that earlier picked on cities and certain elements destroyed much of the urban fabric - especially of the "others". Similar efforts have built up to work against rural areas and suburban areas. Tit for tat I suppose. Still a fear of all versions of others that are unfamiliar.
A conspiracy of "for-ers" may be a better response. I'm for walkable area and for transportation options for all ages. I'm for using less energy resources for living my daily life. I'm for beauty and for quality of surroundings. I'm for being around interesting people in interesting places. I for spending most of my time in cities that offer easier access to what I am looking for.
I am for a realization of the extra cost of sprawl imposed on less spread-out areas. Some of these are hard for "against-ers" and "for-ers", but give me facts and truths.
I have to admit that I was flattered to read my comment quoted at the top! Most of the time when I write Substack comments I don't get any feedback in the form of likes or replies (and I couldn't write clickbait if I wanted to), so it's hard to know for sure when something I write has made an impression.
I'm a late Boomer and a lifelong city dweller and a frustrated progressive, and absolutely do think we need to wait for enough Boomers to retire or die.
I don't say "just" need to, because the removal of a fundamental obstacle does not by itself create progress. Also the above realization is every bit as much about my own "blue" cultural/political tribe as about the "red" one. But, yea.
Also I definitely agree that the fundamental salience of feeling generally safe is white American progressives' most glaring blind spot. For the other side in the political/cultural wars it is a gift that keeps on giving.
Why would a higher class of driver's license be a ban on big pick-up trucks? People who need one or really want one could get the license. Given that they are more dangerous to other road users, shouldn't they require a higher level of responsibility?
There are conspiracies of "against-ers" that earlier picked on cities and certain elements destroyed much of the urban fabric - especially of the "others". Similar efforts have built up to work against rural areas and suburban areas. Tit for tat I suppose. Still a fear of all versions of others that are unfamiliar.
A conspiracy of "for-ers" may be a better response. I'm for walkable area and for transportation options for all ages. I'm for using less energy resources for living my daily life. I'm for beauty and for quality of surroundings. I'm for being around interesting people in interesting places. I for spending most of my time in cities that offer easier access to what I am looking for.
I am for a realization of the extra cost of sprawl imposed on less spread-out areas. Some of these are hard for "against-ers" and "for-ers", but give me facts and truths.