DMorrill

Posted Thu, Nov 5, 9:33 a.m.

Generally a perceptive analysis. I'd add that the progressive-conservative polarization is increasingly based on education and occupation (a.k.a "class") which helps us understand why Pierce and Cowlitz (Longview) and Clark , with large blue-collar populations vote conservatively on social issues. This was evident too in the Maine vote on gay ...

Posted Sat, Oct 17, 7 a.m.

I was at the talk, and since Geography sponsored Bruce Katz’ talk, I also attended a faculty workshop. I agree with comments that the talk was mainly a paean to the metropolitan dominance cliché. But a few healthy points snuck through, including the importance of a resurgence in making stuff ...

Posted Fri, Aug 28, 10:52 a.m.

The ‘race’ we’re losing is to understand the real world, in contrast to the planners’ utopia. In the real world, at least ¾ of jobs are not suited for and cannot survive in downtowns or major centers, and at least ¾ of people, and not only in families, prefer modest ...

Posted Thu, Jun 11, 2:03 p.m.

Well, that’s a good start on describing Seattle’s cultural conformity, our smugness and superiority in the guise of liberalism. Probably only Berkeley and Boulder are worse at making it known how everyone should think and behave. That should be a warning to us. As a downtown built on bloated and ...

Posted Fri, Jun 5, 5:27 p.m.

Ruling class! interesting to hear the term again. probably a little harder measure. to Pebble Creek-- I note the index is composed of education, occupation and income in that order of contribution. Mobility is actually lower for rich folks, since they are more likely to be owners, at least after ...

Posted Thu, Apr 16, 5:17 p.m.

As I've shown here in Crosscut and elsewhere, people have failed to concentrate to the degree that planners hoped, simply because they don't want to be crammed into apartment buildings! Closing the "loophole" of planned unit developments will not change this. People will still exercise their preferences and move even ...

Posted Fri, Apr 10, 8:21 p.m.

Religious fundamentalism, even in the guise of environmental sustainability, is as destructive to the human spirit, as any other utopian dogma, which subjects humans to an absolutist creed. I recommend that people read Thomas More’s original Utopia, to begin to grasp the horrors of total subjugation. Fascinating and well-meaning utopian ...

Posted Sun, Mar 15, 5:37 p.m.

Seattleites often have an unjustified inferiority comple vis-a-vis Portland and Vancouver, BC, but in this respect we are backward and deprived. Our rivals have great clothing-optional venues, which Seattle surely needs if it claims to be a world-class city!

Posted Wed, Feb 25, 1 p.m.

The quadrupling refers to the growth of the urbanized area population from 800000 in 1950 to over 3.2 million in 2008, and is correct. Constitutionally, population movement in the US cannot be constrained. This was reaffirmed in the 1930s. But the growth of central Puget SOund will probably be less ...

Posted Sat, Feb 7, 4:27 p.m.

Kudos to Knute and to all the commenters. I almost believe that teaching and writing urban geography for 50 years has truly been worthwhile, as I sense an unusually high level of understanding of the true character of the metropolis. I think the most important points were these 1. There ...