It won't be necessary to" take anything away from them". The rising prices of fuel and market forces in general will take care of that, as you point out. The change has already started, even if we don't recognize our current economic problems as the new reality, not just a temporary setback. The important thing is that alternatives to Levittown will be in place, or at least, will be under development. As far as those who insist on living a 50s suburban existence are concerned, they are welcome to do so if they can afford it.

We can only hope that demagogues will not exploit the nostalgia for the good old days and create some domestic or foreign enemy to blame it all on. The temptation will be to do exactly that, or to continue borrowing money to finance a lifestyle that is no longer sustainable.

Your comments on the role of popular culture are instructive. There was a time when the Ricardos and the Kramdens were typical urban Americans we could all identify with. Now they appear almost third world. And can anyone really believe a typical modern Manhattan apartment resembles anything like the digs of the kids on "Friends"?