One big sprawl.  So, to go to the bookstore, you had to drive, to go to the grocery store, you had to drive.

Think about this in terms of the policy debate about how to adapt to the high cost of oil.  One way to to up the mpg to sustain the sprawl model of urban development, while the other is to tackle oil use by making walking and transit an option.  

Why has the focus been on ways to make cars use less gas instead of ways to use cars less?

The reason that I bring conspicous consumption into the conversation is that it focuses on purposeful waste as a way to convey social status.  And I'm arguing that the persistence of wasteful economic behavior with auto mobiles and transportation has a lot more to do about conveying social status to others rather than any utility to accrues to the individual.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg