Sane Asylum: Suburbs and the American Middle Class
Americans love their suburbs. Suburban living almost defines the American way of life. Privacy, both homes and backyards. Space. Peace and quiet, except for power mowers and leaf blowers. Compare this with the high cost of space, peace and quiet in cities. Suburbs are a refuge from the stress of live and work in America. They are places where nothing happens. Little or no violent crime. No class conflict. Family oriented. Acceptable schools at a lower cost than private schools in cities. Lots of space for playing fields and organized sports for kids. I sometimes think this is the main activity in suburbs. When Americans retire, they move to “senior citizen” suburban developments that are often even more isolated and further removed from urban life than the suburbs they came from. But what about the excitement of a city? For example, the live cultural events. There is an improving substitute – electronic entertainment. I can watch al