Monday, June 07, 2004
Vermont
"National Trust Names State of Vermont One of America's 11 Most Endangered Historical Places". Why not? Dynamic Creative Destruction has given us unparalleled material wealth. And one vehicle has been innovative retailing, which includes "big box" stores and Wal-Mart.
The hard part is: how would statewide land use planning actually work? All land use decisions can be described as including some "externalities". So, everyone has standing to challenge any and all land use plans? This simply politicizes these plans -- moreso than they already are.
In a world of private communities, the Wal-Marts would deal directly with the neighborhood association. They would arrive at a deal that is acceptable to both sides. Yes, there are still (inevitably) association politics but standing in the dispute would not extend over the whole state.
