The garage issue breaks really down to: some people want them, some people don't; some people can afford them and some people can't. Mandating garages and/or full basements for new homes will penalize those who can least afford them and drive the possibility of home ownership even further from their grasp.
I have a garage (built for a Model-T) that my 12 year old car does not fit in. My household also sports a truck that one of my sons uses for work. He' s in construction, travels throughout the metro area, and carries tools and materials to jobs. I don't see an alternative to his mode of transportation but I am quite sure that he is offending more than a few list members. In addition, I drive to work every day, instead of using mass transit. This is because I am a single parent and the round trip by car takes 30 minutes and by bus an hour and half to three hours. Sometimes, choices are about time. This summer I took down (gasp!) an old pine tree at the back of my yard and increased the size of my driveway so we could park two vehicles behind the house instead of one. That same week there was a heated discussion on this list about that very issue and how the city should pass ordinances so that people would not be allowed to do that. The discussion ended with the point that those (misguided/ignorant/choose your own put-down) people should be "educated" so that they will understand the error of their ways. In addition, I found that much of the thread regarding "A Father's Plea" to be personally offensive. To turn social pressure, including ostracism against those who drive, as a solution to pollution/congestion/etc. is distasteful. I find it ironic that the political left, which practically chants "choice" and "diversity" spends so much time dictating every minutia of their agenda into law and imposing it onto our lives. It seems as if "choice" is only valid if you make the right one (theirs) and "diversity" is laudable if it is politically correct but outrageous if it strays from their agenda. I spent 30 years in the DFL and was once proud to proclaim liberal views. But those days are gone and I have left the party. I found very few party members who were actually interested in new ideas or pursuing real dialogue-as they already had all the answers. Unfortunately, that same mind set is also prevalent in the Green Party (and on this list). I got tired of banging my head against the proverbial wall, packed my bags, and left. ....And I wasn't alone. Catherine Leighton Live in Longfellow/Work North East _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
