Although James Kunstler's eye-on-America is right up Opensewer's alley, it's unfortunate that he lays blame (in-part) on architects here. Unfortunately, the American people are the ones who don't want anything outside the box, who are afraid of anything (design-wise) that might make sense, and who strive to all be the same. Society/values have been an influence as well, not just what the "architects have given" us. Americans afraid of urban living = suburbanites (safe, safe) and strip centers.