[xeromal]

This is just a spit take, but American culture is a bit more independent-minded and always has been since the founder. Having your own property is part of that identity. That's why many went west rather than build up in cities.

[hannasanarion]

Moving west and building up happened at the same time, and western city centers are just as dense as eastern ones.

The rarification of US cities happened in the 1940s and 1950s, when entire neighborhoods were bulldozed to make room for highways and parking lots that idealistic modernists and self-serving auto lobbyists believed were the future.

[timerol]

This argument really bothers me. "Having your own property is part of that identity" makes sense, but that is pretty much the exact opposite of "agreeing to collective laws that limit what you are allowed to do with your property."

[kqr]

How is being dependent on fuel/motorised transport more independent than being able to transport yourself using your own body?

[xeromal]

We had horses and wagons before bicycles. I'm sure that's more car-like than bike-like.

[gpvos]

But what is the relation between being independent-minded and prohibiting others in your neighbourhood from building more densely?

[xeromal]

I don't want people around me. Density is the opposite of that.

[gpvos]

I tend to interpret independent as "I don't want other people to determine what I have to do", but yeah, "I don't want other people to intrude on me at all" is another possibility.