Ian -- It's interesting the way some subjects seem completely off-limits so far as the "public conversation" goes, isn't it? The influence of the Israel Lobby, or black crime rates, for instance. Until recently, any attempt to talk about immigration policy was shouted down -- amazing that the topic has semi-surfaced these days. I often marvel at this. Who (or what process) has put these topics off limits? And why should the rest of us complacently acquiesce in these judgments?

Secret Asian Man -- Didn't the American Dream (so far as it meant house, etc) always have to do with towns and suburbs? But you're certainly right that middle-class families have a much harder time than they used to so far as city life goes. But does that really have to do so much with urban singles? I thought the more important factors were lousy schools, bad air, tight quarters, worries about crime ... Another way of looking at it is that singles are better able to cope with the challenges of contempo urban living than most families are, no?

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on October 3, 2007 10:08 AM