Book Review: Geography of Nowhere Smacks of Liberal Drivel

The Geography of Nowhere by James Howard Kunstler argues that the individualism of owning your own home is causing the downfall of urban planning. He thinks urban planners should be able to make public places etc. Are we to pay for this utopia? They say someone who aims to make a utopia is insane. Are we to listen to this hatred of America? Sure, life's not perfect, but there's more to life than pretty capital buildings, as much as I like architecture, the bible says as long as we have food and clothing we are to be happy. So maybe the problem isn't the lack of urban planning, but advertising and discontent and ingratitude. I would love to own my own home but taxes are so high, that many people are foreclosing because everyone wants everything in their town. They pay a high mortgage, and over spend in credit cards and and are so strapped for cash they go bankrupt.

The problem is in watching too much TV and having no friends and not having community. Not having a church. Not believing in anything other than drugs sex and rock and roll. Not having a good family, not expanding your mind to the arts. These things, not the lack of manicured parks and opera houses is the problem. We have more money today than any other time. And all people do is fritter away time on TV and meaningless gossip and sex.

I have found a lot of joy bird watching, I can do it almost anytime I am outside. There are times when there are hundreds of crows in the air, or I see a gold finch, and it makes my heart light. I love it. I grew up in the country with three acres behind me and a small town atmosphere. But no one was happy. They thought they had to live like a rock star to matter. No, I started going to church and found a lot of relief from my troubled mind from prayer and meditation. You realize nothing is perfect, but it's ok.

No, suburbs might not be perfect, but at least you have a home. Hopefully a loving family, friends and you can work towards your dreams. The American dream isn't lost, its merely misplaced. I think we need to be grateful for what we have and work hard to succeed so we can then save the world. Not to use the government to control everything.