We continue to feed millions more on less land because of improved farming methods. The demand for agricultural land would fall even further if the 105th Congress continues the good work begun in the 104th in cutting farm subsidies. The telecommunications revolution is allowing jobs to move to where people want to live, unlike in the past when people followed the jobs. An increasing proportion of mobile households choose to live in high amenity-low density settings. Most job growth is now in rural areas.
Growth gets a bad rap, both when it happens and when it stops.
In either case, intelligent discussions must take place if sound policy choices are to be made. Getting the facts right is a good beginning. So much of the so-called New Urbanism and the compact city movement rests on wishful thinking and the arrogance of social engineers who override individual preferences. It is followed by a rebuttal by the Oregon Transportation Institute to clarify inaccuracies in the Metro letter. We wish they had taken their own advice.