I have two quick posts this morning, but blogging will be spotty today. The mute kid puked when he got off the school bus this morning. The nurse put a "return to sender" stamp on his forehead, so he's watching Cartoon Network downstairs. Somehow I have to grade the blog projects while parenting. Le sigh.

OK, the first post of the day is a link to Russell Arben Fox's post about the life-changing experience of living in Germany. I've never lived in Europe, but I've bummed around there over the years with a backpack or stayed with my sister who lived in Spain. Like Russell, I love the walk-ability of Europe, the daily shopping for fresh produce, the slower pace of life, the great food, the bicycles, the small apartments, and the boisterous pubs and cafes. Not to mention the generous social welfare programs.

Russell identifies this lifestyle with conservatism. I'm not sure if any ideology can claim the rights to this lifestyle.

Why don't we have that here? I want everything from the cafes to the subsidized daycare.

In a comment in a previous post, Siobhan says that Americans have made a trade off between the big houses and lawns for that European experience.

While David Brooks wrote that maybe Americans do want a different lifestyle — something with more community, but retains their cars and their backyards.

We need real urban planning to undo the bad decisions of the past sixty years that have given us suburban sprawl and shopping centers. Instead, we're held hostage by local interests who lack a central vision or plan and building decisions are based solely on what brings in ratables, what helps their friends, and what lowers taxes.