Online Film: The End of Suburbia

"We're stuck up a cul-de-sac in a cement SUV without a fill-up" James Howard Kunstler

So begins The End of Suburbia, a film that was regarded as alarmist and overly pessimistic when it first came out. However, in the last six years, many things have happened that might make reasonable people change their minds.

While higher energy prices, and higher prices for the products that use energy in their manufacture or distribution may have left many looking for somebody to blame, others are questioning if the so-called "American Way of Life" is sustainable or not.




A number of experts who appear in The End of Suburbia make a strong argument that the suburban way of life is not sustainable. In fact, it doesn't even appear to be enjoyable with all the long commutes, the traffic, and the expenses of maintaining a large house on a large lot, far away from the other places you need to go.

In addition to the large costs that suburbanites are shelling out, there are other costs borne by the taxpayer. Not many people realize that the wires, pipes, roads, and other infrastructure that make suburban living possible are subsidized with taxpayer dollars.




And isn't there something dishonest about the very essence of suburban living? The romantic names of subdivisions attempt to evoke an intercation with nature. But isn't it obvious that development itself is what is slowly but steadily using nature up and paving it over?




Instead of leaving the attentive viewer cowering in fear, The End of Suburbia leaves us with possible solutions. In particular, something called "The New Urbanism" is discussed.

Thanks to Top Documentary Films, you can watch The End of Suburbia right now!