[JoeAltmaier]

We are not gonna run out of rural. That's a red herring.

Sprawl happens because its a free market, and people buy that stuff (suburban housing).

[eru]

The US doesn't have a free market in housing. There's lots of stupid zoning and covenants.

Yes, some people like suburban sprawl and buy it, but the alternatives are pretty much illegal in most places. See eg http://cityobservatory.org/my_illegal_neighborhood/ (The neighourhood featured there is still too sprawly for my tastes, but already illegally dense.)

[JoeAltmaier]

Maybe where you live. I live in the country, where none of that happens. Good luck with that superior city living!