Sherman's March To Wal-Mart

The swath of destruction to farmland and natural areas caused by urban sprawl in the American South is worse than the damage wrought by General Sherman's March to the Sea during the Civil War.

1 minute read

July 24, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

If people in South Carolina are ever going to take a stand, they had better do it fast. Sherman's soldiers had to follow country roads. The developers have Interstate 85. Four of the five most-sprawling metro areas in the nation, according to Smart Growth America, lie along this stretch of highway. Yet sprawl -- and the frustrations it causes -- could play a role in the upcoming elections. It is one of the biggest sleeper issues in American politics. As more citizens fume in snarled traffic (their lifestyle choice, according to the pro-growth crowd), a light may go on in their heads that says this didn't have to be. When it does, their anger will turn most likely on Republicans.

Thanks to Michael Dudley

FULL STORY: Sherman's March to Wal-Mart

Thursday, July 22, 2004 in The Seattle Times

Government / Politics South Carolina

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