Back in 2000, I read and reviewed the superb book Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream.” The book describes how America decided, consciously, to pursue a development pattern known as “sprawl,” based in large part on massive subsidization of automobile travel, as well as almost complete discounting of negative “externalities” such as environmental damage, medical treatment necessitated by car-related injuries and pollution, adverse economic and national security implications of our “oil addiction, etc. Instead of incorporating all those “externalities” into the price of gasoline, we instead pay the cheapest price for gasoline in the developed world. Here in Virginia, our current governor just recently proposed making matters even worse, by slashing the gasoline tax. Another Republican, Jim Gilmore, came to power in part by promising “no car tax” – the exact opposite of what “Suburban Nation” recommends we should be doing if we want to have livable communities and a society that works for everyone.

Today, 13 years after my book review, gasoline is double the $1.75 per gallon (in inflation-adjusted dollars) that it was back then. We’re also living in the aftermath of 9/11, which in part resulted from the bin Laden family’s petrodollars funding a previously obscure group named “Al Qaeda.” Since 2000, the threat of global warming has become far more urgent, while our economy has experienced a real estate collapse concentrated mostly in areas (e.g., Prince William County) where gasoline-fueled transport, long commutes, and large houses heated and cooled by fossil fuels, are king, and where sprawl is the standard development model. In stark contrast, places like Arlington and Alexandria – walkable, bikeable, near Metro stations – saw little decline in housing prices, followed by a sharp rebound in the past couple years. Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, the question today is whether the sprawl model still makes sense in any way (I’d argue strongly NO), and also whether the economic incentives are causing people’s “preferences” (in quotes, because these are meaningful only in the context of various policy choices, path dependency, the price of energy, etc.) to shift. I’d argue that we’re shifting to some degree in the direction of “smart growth” and more urban living, and away from the sprawl model, but not nearly fast enough.

There’s a lot more to say on this subject, of course, and my intention here was not to write a long post on this subject. Mainly, I just wanted to point everyone to Bacon’s Rebellion, where Jim Bacon has an excellent post which asks the question “Do American Households Really Prefer “Sprawl” Development?” I don’t usually agree with Jim Bacon, but in this case, he had me at “the vast apparatus of zoning codes, transportation policies and federal housing subsidies – which amounts to a different form of social engineering – that continue to under-write traditional suburban-sprawl development.” Yeah, I know, it’s really geeky, but I’ll admit it: I love this stuff. I also loved Bacon’s analysis in this article, and particularly his conclusion, which sums up my feelings towards the just-signed transportation bill perfectly. Enjoy.

Walkable urbanism in Virginia. I opposed Governor Bob McDonnell’s transportation tax package on the grounds that it would raise more money to squander on road and highway projects that would support Business As Usual development. My side lost, so I won’t carp about it anymore. My goal now is to ensure that the money is well spent. We have a choice, people. We can build more roads to support more sprawl – as we have in the past and continue to do – or we can invest our money in projects that support re-development, maximize the use of existing infrastructure, and create more fiscally sustainable human settlement patterns.

The bottom line: I had mixed feelings about the transportation bill all along, but now that it’s signed into law, the goal should be to make it work as well – or least badly – as possible. And that means absolutely NOT spending the new revenue stream on building terrible, wasteful, sprawl-encouraging projects like the ones I talk about here (e.g., the horrendous “Outer Beltway”). The problem is, I don’t trust the powers that be to do the right thing here. Have any of them even read “Suburban Nation?” It sure doesn’t seem like it from what I can determine…

( – promoted by lowkell)

Two things in yesterday’s news and news coverage on Benghazi caught my eye.

First, there’s been plenty of talk about the Republicans’ “Benghazi obsession.” Some (including –if I remember correctly– Chris Hayes on MSNBC) have corrected that to say that it is really an “Obama obsession.”

But that’s not it either. What it is is AN OBSESSION WITH GETTING POWER. That’s the big pattern. That’s the consistent element over these years. That’s what makes sense of what’s going on.

Second, there was this quote from the President’s statement to the press yesterday. Rightly calling attention to the Republicans’ transparent efforts to attack him by making mountains of scandal over the molehills of the administration’s handling of the Benghazi attacks, President Obama concluded by saying:

“This whole thing defies logic.  And the fact that this keeps on getting churned out, frankly, has a lot to do with political motivations.”

“A lot to do with political motivations”? Please, Mr. President –I feel like shouting– is that the best counter-attack you can do? You are in a war with these Republicans. That’s how THEY act. That’s how they’ve acted since you first took office. It’s high time you went after them –with their lies and distractions — with the same ferocity that they are bringing to the battle.

“Political motivations”? At least make sure that you indicate for the public that it’s the Republicans’ motivations that are the problem.

And how about saying something about those motivations? Like that “obsession with getting power” mentioned above. Like putting making you fail way ahead of meeting the nation’s needs among their priorities.  Like trying finding some way to smear Hillary Clinton who looks like a good bet to keep the White House in the Democrats’ hands in 2016.

You’re in a fight to the finish with these Republicans, Mr. President. Stop pulling your punches. Take the gloves off.

(I missed this fascinating story: “The number of non-Virginians obtaining state-issued concealed handgun permits has boomed in the four years since Ken Cuccinelli sponsored legislation making it clear that online testing meets the legal training requirement for them. One beneficiary of that increased demand is a Norfolk gun dealer, and Cuccinelli campaign contributor, who markets virtual training to out-of-staters whose home states have tougher permit standards than Virginia’s.” – promoted by lowkell)

Here are a few Virginia (and national) news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, May 14. Also, check out the video and take the Cuccinelli quiz!

*Washington IRS officials probed conservatives (“Effort scrutinizing groups not limited to Cincinnati branch, as first suggested; Democrats, Republicans alike decry actions as an abuse of power.”)

*Outside probe of IRS is critical (Agreed, we all need to know what happened here.)

*How IRS scandal could help Karl Rove and dark money (“Advocates had hoped IRS would clarify its rules on Rove style groups, but now that may be politically impossible”)

*Obama’s second-term blues set in (It’s extremely frustrating, because there’s so much we need to do in this country, on the economy, climate change, infrastructure, and a million other issues…)

*Obama, lawmakers denounce IRS for targeting conservative groups

*McDonnell: Cemetery had right to bury Boston suspect (Correct: “My understanding is we don’t regulate those and it’s really a matter of private property.”)

*Virginia gubernatorial candidates doing battle in national arena, too (“Ken Cuccinelli II and Terry McAuliffe are competing for dollars nationally while vying for votes in Virginia.”)

*McDonnell signs $6 billion transportation funding bill (Which Ken Cuccinelli opposed.)

*McDonnell, Bolling to miss Va. GOP convention

*Democrats dump on Cuccinelli ahead of his nomination (“The man hoping to succeed Cuccinelli as attorney general, Loudoun County Sen. Mark Herring, started things off on a call with Michael Mann, the former University of Virginia professor Cuccinelli made the focus of a 2010 fraud investigation over government research grants he received.”)

*Cuccinelli airs new TV ad on economic plan (Which completely glosses over what the plan will actually do. Hmmm.)

*How gullible do candidates for governor think we are? (“Attorney General Cuccinelli must hope his dubious proposals will deflect his focus on far-right advocacy on social issues. Fat chance.”)

*Richmond judge to consider dismissing Executive Mansion chef case

*A cost of open government? The case of Star Scientific (Why is it so hard for Ken Cuccinelli to answer a simple question about his dealings with Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams?)

*National Democrats target Virginia statehouse races

*Chopra releases first television ad

*What a way to run for office (“Drawing lots is no way to settle on the better candidate when there’s a tie.”)

*Local Tea Party group says tax exemption request was delayed

*Virginia Education Association endorses Ralph Northam for lieutenant governor (And Mark Herring for Attorney General.)

*Nationals vs. Dodgers: Bryce Harper runs into wall, leaves Washington win early (“The prevailing sentiment was that Harper would probably miss a game or two – even if he pleaded to stay in Monday night as blood dripped down his neck.”)

*Washington Capitals routed by New York Rangers in Game 7 of 2013 NHL playoff series (Sigh…)

*How Much Would It Cost Dan Snyder To Rebrand The Redskins? (“In terms of financial impact, the model results suggest that school’s experience a very short (1 or 2 years) negative impact and then quickly recover.”)