[wj]

Actually I have two kids. As I suspect many of the people on the 534 bus in LA did.

"What you may save in rent, you lose in every other aspect of daily life."

What you're suggesting is that you might value the other aspects in life over the money saved on rent. I agree with you there. I love spending time with my kids. But know that other people are also trying to place that same value themselves. When a majority of the people are reaching the same conclusion then the housing prices will go in the direction demanded by the majority based on supply and demand.

If the majority of people decided that commuting farther was worth the trade off then housing prices would ease up. And then more people could afford them. Eventually a market price would be established.

I feel like bringing Bush into the conversation is a red herring as many people will have a strong reaction to that in one way or another and lose sight of the conversation we are having.

[ectoplasm]

Communities function better if people work and live in the same place.