SMART GROWTH - PEOPLE PER ACRE
Derry Brownfield
April 5, 2002
NewsWithViews.com
Over the past few years, we have discussed "SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES," a term used by the politically correct elite for our future cities. Cities: without automobiles, no suburbs and no large homes on 2-acre lots. Sustainable communities tie in well with Agenda 21 and the Wildlands Project, whereby 50 percent of the United States will be reverted back to the wild and our entire population will live in these areas of "smart growth." The plan is to force rural folks into these already crowded areas and the move is well underway as farmers and ranchers are being forced off their land. Missouri's Governor has issued a Smart Growth Executive Order and our colleges are holding seminars and teaching courses on the subject.
The following figures have been taken from the Sierra Club website www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/community/enviroimpacts.asp. For example, Minnesota's Twin Cities density is 1,800 people per square mile but with smart growth it should grow to 3,000 people per square mile. Portland now has a density of 3,000 people per square mile but should be as dense as Los Angeles 5,600 per square mile. LA should improve its density to that of Chicago's 16,000 per square mile. The Sierra Club website indicates that the efficient urban density is 500 households per acre. An acre is only slightly over 200 feet square so Manhattan, with only 52,000 people per square mile, has a ways to go before it reaches smart-growth perfection.
The Sierra Club web page compares four different densities: Dense urban is 400 households per acre. Efficient urban is only 100 households per acre. Efficient suburban is 10 households per acre and then there is "SPRAWL" defined as one household per acre. At 100 households per acre our entire US population would fit into Los Angeles. The entire world population could live in the state of Virginia.
This sounds so ridiculous that most people won't believe it can happen. The folks behind these screwball ideas have huge amounts of money along with government grants to carry out their plans and they are very serious in their beliefs. If anybody can put a stop to their lunatic ideas it's not going to be the farmer or rancher who are trying to pay off the mortgage on the home place. It will be the multi-millionaire who has built a $3 million home on five acres. These people won't like living in a sustainable community any better than us farmers and ranchers and they have the money to fight for their freedom. It's our job to convince them that this is taking place before their very eyes.
As for me and my house - I still want land, lots of land underneath the skies above, so - please, don't fence me in.
© Derry Brownfield, All Rights Reserved
Derry Brownfield was born in 1932 and grew up during the depression. He is a farmer and a broadcaster. Derry attended the College of Agriculture at the University of Missouri where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees. He taught Vocational Agriculture several years before going to work as a Marketing Specialist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Derry served as Director of the Kansas City Livestock Market Foundation at the Kansas City Stockyard prior to establishing himself in farm broadcasting.
Derry started farming when he was 16 years old and received the Future Farmers of America State Farmer degree in 1949. Since that time the Brownfield Farm has grown to over 1000 acres maintaining a herd of 200 registered Charolias cows.
In 1972, Derry and his partner established the Brownfield Network which now serves 250 radio stations throughout the Midwest with news and market information.
In 1994, Derry started his own syndicated radio talk show and hi is one of the most popular radio talk show hosts in America. The Derry Brownfield Show can be heard on approximately 80 radio stations in 23 states. With his entertaining sense of humor and witty commentary he has captured audiences for over 30 years. His ability to present an informative talk show while being light and colorful is why he has a large loyal listening audience.
Derry Brownfield is a practical farmer, a practical business man and a very entertaining speaker. He travels extensively throughout the country speaking about his common-sense point of view. Web Site is: http://www.derrybrownfield.com
Related Articles:
'Smart Growth' Or Dumbed Down With Consensus Politicians
Tugwell: Government Will Control All Land