TomPaine.com - Confronting The American Lifestyle

Entire article here.

"It is time for Democrats to confront one of the third rails remaining in Washington politics: the "American way of life." I'm not talking democracy and apple pie, although Washington could use truckloads more of both. Rather, it's time to mount a frontal assault on the failure of the post-war social experiment called suburbia. The prize is not only peace and prosperity, but a political realignment that staggers the imagination."...


..."At the same time, Dems will also have to show that it's not Americans who have chosen their unsustainable way of life, but that their way of life is the product of government policies. Transportation, mortgage assistance, energy, agriculture and natural resource policies have all contributed to give Americans no viable option for living sustainable lives.

Take transportation, for example. The federal government is subsidizing domestic oil production with ridiculously low royalties (approximately $2/barrel) that perpetuates our dependence on oil while forgoing billions in tax revenues. The government also oversubsidizes highways and undersubsidizes subways, light rail and inter-city railroads. And, even though hybrids use remarkably less gasoline and greatly reduce carbon emissions, Congress has limited the number of hybrid rebates available, virtually strangling this burgeoning market. Jane Q. Public might want to drive a hybrid and live in a beautiful walkable neighborhood, but they either don't exist or they're priced way out of reach. It's not her fault or the market's fault. It's the government's fault.

Americans basically want peace and prosperity. But right now, our economy is driving the opposite. In order to secure the oil we need, we're trapped in a major war in Iraq. The commuting, shopping and activities that comprise our day-to-day lives are draining our pocketbooks and keeping families apart. Again, it's not Jane Q. Public's fault, it's not the market's fault. It's the government's fault for laying out the rules so poorly."...