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Assuming these conspiracy theorists actually exist, there's an easy way to prove them wrong without pejorative-laden propaganda pieces like this: make one of th

by bm3719 4y ago

Assuming these conspiracy theorists actually exist, there's an easy way to prove them wrong without pejorative-laden propaganda pieces like this: make one of these cities that people will actually want to live in. I worked hard to move out of the city and have some space. I took the tradeoff in accessibility in exchange for the financial and personal freedom that allows. Build a higher density city where housing prices don't make me work another 10 years, and is free from crime, high taxes, noise, and overbearing laws, and I'll be happy to move back. Being able to walk to a restaurant is great and all, but isn't worth the tradeoff currently. It's not even close, I'd say.

TrueGeek 4y ago
What city did you try?
- bm3719 4y ago
  Lived in several of the DC metro area cities (mainly on the Northern VA side) for 12 yrs. Was a good area compared to many other cities I've visited, but I'm glad to not be there anymore and wouldn't have been able to retire early given COL there.
jfengel 4y ago
It's a classic tragedy of the commons. It's not easy to build such a city, even if everyone agreed that it would be better. It's difficult to get people to buy into a set of rules that would improve everyone's lives, if they think that somebody will be getting a bigger slice of the commons than they will. It's even harder when there are people who devote their lives to making it harder. People will create Gish gallops of false information to instill fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Then they'll point to the lack of successes -- because the experiments you ask for never get done. It takes a supreme act of will -- practically a benevolent dictator -- to get from here to there. There are places that are trying it, and the preliminary results are positive. Look at Paris and Barcelona, among others. That doesn't mean you, personally, will like such a city life. But some people like what cities bring, and like that they are more energy-efficient than living elsewhere.
orwin 4y ago
La Rochelle. Barcelona and Lisbon maybe. Although all three cities are plagued by tourists once summer is there.

by bm3719 4y ago

TrueGeek 4y ago

What city did you try?

bm3719 4y ago
Lived in several of the DC metro area cities (mainly on the Northern VA side) for 12 yrs. Was a good area compared to many other cities I've visited, but I'm glad to not be there anymore and wouldn't have been able to retire early given COL there.

jfengel 4y ago

It's a classic tragedy of the commons. It's not easy to build such a city, even if everyone agreed that it would be better. It's difficult to get people to buy into a set of rules that would improve everyone's lives, if they think that somebody will be getting a bigger slice of the commons than they will. It's even harder when there are people who devote their lives to making it harder. People will create Gish gallops of false information to instill fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Then they'll point to the lack of successes -- because the experiments you ask for never get done. It takes a supreme act of will -- practically a benevolent dictator -- to get from here to there. There are places that are trying it, and the preliminary results are positive. Look at Paris and Barcelona, among others. That doesn't mean you, personally, will like such a city life. But some people like what cities bring, and like that they are more energy-efficient than living elsewhere.

orwin 4y ago

La Rochelle. Barcelona and Lisbon maybe. Although all three cities are plagued by tourists once summer is there.