Saturday I was watching Book TV on C-Span 2, which only broadcasts on the week-end. Book TV that is. Non-fiction Authors guest speak at Universities, Book Fairs, and Book Stores around the Country.

Saturday, David Brooks discussed his Book, "On Paradise Drive". I just wanted to point out some interesting issues he brought up in his Book.

He stated first, of all that all these Suburbias are beginning to look the same, and you could be dropped anywhere in the US in the middle of a Suburbian Mall and would not know which City you were in. Every Mall has got their Chain Restaurants....Fuddruckers, Chili's, TGIF, Outback, etc. Then you have your Wal-Mart, Linens and Things, Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Office Depot, Target............and he went on, naming all the stores I have become familiar with that are cloned across this huge Country of ours. By the way he spoke about how our culture was so used to the Restaurant chains, that apparently, we wouldn't know 'real' good food if it stared us in the eye.

Middle Class Mom's were described as 'Uber-Moms' planning for their children's entrance to Harvard before they are even out of their diapers, it appears. He ranted on about how structured Children's lives are today, with regimented Play Dates, Soccer Practice, Dance and Tuba Lessons and so on. So that the Parent is eternally driving around in their monster SUV's to shuttle the kids all over.

He spoke awhile on this Suburb 'Culture', and mentioned that this "Cultural Diversity' thing is a crock. Mainly because 'like' people prefer to stick together. And you won't find a Black College Professor , a Hispanic White Collar worker and a a White Pro Golfer all living in the same neighborhood. The Cutural Divirsity, from what he believes, is 'Cultural Concentrate'. (my word--But that's what he means).

He also spoke a bit on the Polarization of Political Parties.....He even says it is affecting Washingtion. There is now something called "Civility Conference", that they have in DC, I guess once a year(?) They have Break-out Sessions and then Party at night. This 'Civility' apparently wasn't working that well...at least for some people. He found a woman standing out in the hallway after a Breakout session who had been reduced to tears, because of some Partisan crap thrown at her by an opposing Political person.

Maybe there wasn't much civility, but there was Hilarity. At night there was some Kareaoke Party where a bunch of Drunk Senators were singing Beach Boy Songs , and wearing Balloon Hats.

Brooks also brought up the fact that most people are loyal to a Party and would not necessairily vote just for a Person no matter what Party they represent. So most will never cross Party lines, and pretty much, will stay with the same Party for most of their life. We tend to go to Websites and News Channels that support and affirm who we are politically, enforcing the phrase, "You are really right, You are really right."

This can lead many of us to get things 'WRONG'. Because we are loyal and affiliate only with our Party, and read only what supports our theories, and reinforces our identity, we tend to nix everything else that does not fit in. As an example, about one half of the Democrats got it wrong when they said that Inflation rose during the Reagan Administration., which apparently is false.
And conversely The Republicans got it wrong when they said Inflation rose while Clinton was President. That is not accurate either.

I found his discussion about his Book very interesting. He was humorous and brought up all kinds of Suburbia Stuff, to make us laugh at ourselves, and he did get the audience to laugh frequently.

It goes without saying that, 'studies' like these are always generalizations. But I do believe that much of what he is saying is painfully true for many of us.

ok Guys............anyone out there who DOESN'T live in Suburb Land?