Jackson's statement: "americans are of two minds of how we ought to live"

Q: Do you agree or disagree with Jackson's statement: "americans are of two minds of how we ought to live". explain your answer.

A: As Jackson addressed the concern of urban sprawl and the continuation growth of low density suburbs in our society, he looks to the mentality involved in a society that advocates and publicly envy European urban design. The paradox came from the negative public opinon about suburb and urban sprawl, with promotion of density and the expansion of public transit. He presents that even though there is this public atmosphere for our cities to move toward an European model of a density and rich public life, action speak louder then words, and urban sprawl continues.

Jackson's explanation is that Americans are of two minds. Publicly they see the negatives associated with American urban planning (heavy traffic, environmental impacts, waste of use of space), but Privately they all want "a piece of land, or small house in the country where we can lead an intensely private nonurban existence, staying close to home"

I agree with Jackson's point of view, but I think his range of application is limited. I have the opinion that all people secretly plan and hope to live in a private house with a piece of land they call their own, where they have no neighbors. European cities are a by product of the path of least resistance. Through regulation, high costs of living, and low supply of land for development; the urban planning took the shape it has. However people still dream of the private house where they can retreat from the world.

Americans had the luxury of cheap land, relaxed zoning codes in the country side, and an economic drive to develop. If Europeans had the same opportunity they would have American looking cities as well.