Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Economy of scale, made possible by (not caused by) the increasing mobility of the residents. Better transportation enabled merchants to earn more money by selling more stuff, and to do that they needed more space.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HandsUpThumbsDown
^What happens in 20 years when the boomers die?
Everyone currently under 30 will rejoice ... and then they'll miss us.
Oh, and make that 30 years, please. We boomers should all live until we're 100 just to annoy our children. LOL
Market forces, change in values / habits, and the requisite change in built environment killed main streets.
The market being: new more efficient means of transportation (auto/ access via roadways), technology that enabled longer times between necessary purchases for formerly perishable items (refrigerators, better storage, preservatives et al) rapid efficiency gains in standardized industrial applications across trades / industries eliminating many former small business type establishments which dotted many of these main streets (photography shop, pharmacy, dress and tailor shop, single theater etc...) with economies of scale via competitive advantage (Walmart/Megaplex etc..).
Values: to the degree, in that, America of the "Main Street" as prominent aspect of life (Norman Rockwell idealized) still had youth with desires to succeed, the opportunities of urban centers have always driven youth to seek greater opportunity, fame , fortune et al. in the big city. And as the old saying goes it's hard to keep them on the farm once they've seen the lights of the big city.
Basically, as the consumer market programming overtook the 'populace' psyche', the acceleration in life's 'pace' makes the quaintness of much of a "main street" shopping experience difficult to enjoy. Rush out, stock up, and get back to plugging yourself into the mass media programming /entertainment of choice. The loyalty of a consumer to a local market (Main Street) disappears when globalized labor arbitrage enables slave labor to produce many everyday items to be sold in one large establishment ('China-mart').
Die? People live longer these days. In 20 years, the oldest Boomers will "just" be 88 years old, the youngest 70. Seriously, we're all going to be bugging you for way more than 20 years. It'll be at least 40 years until the majority of the youngest Boomers have gone to their reward.
Die? People live longer these days. In 20 years, the oldest Boomers will "just" be 88 years old, the youngest 70. Seriously, we're all going to be bugging you for way more than 20 years. It'll be at least 40 years until the majority of the youngest Boomers have gone to their reward.
Boy people read a lot more into what I said. I'm just talking about the Texas towns txdv mentioned that have been reinvigorated by retiring boomers.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Rush out, stock up, and get back to plugging yourself into the mass media programming /entertainment of choice. The loyalty of a consumer to a local market (Main Street) disappears when globalized labor arbitrage enables slave labor to produce many everyday items to be sold in one large establishment ('China-mart').
