[P-51]

Andrew, how in the hell can you say that you can afford a Condo on the TTC for less than $900/month?

What is the price on that condo?

I have/had a $160k mortgage, and that costs $1100 per month. Plus $300 for property taxes. $200/energy. $150/communication services.

That still doesn't include maintenance on the place.

I realize that most of these costs would be lower for a condo vs. a single. But the prices in TO are absolutely outrageous, and everybody rushing to get closer to work would just make it worse.

You also can't ignore the reality of this generation: We are pretty much destined to change jobs at least every 5 years. Whether you get laid off, company goes out of business, or you don't want to live with only 3% raises every year... that is the reality.

The costs involved in moving every 5 years would be astronomical. What, 6% for real estate fees just to start. Moving fees, etc. etc....

That isn't even to mention the fact if you try and have two people with careers, it's even harder, finding work that is close enough together to have a home close to both offices.

Maybe if you are a burger flipper, but I think most of us here are in highly specialized careers, and the odds of finding a new job close to where you worked before are next to nothing. Heck, I am and automotive engineer, working in THE MOTOR CITY, and my new job was 100km from my old one.

All this is not to suggest our society can keep going the way it is. Clearly it's unsustainable. But it's not as easy as your untopian view of "sell your car and move next door to work, walk to work in your slippers and housecoat in the morning."

We are complaining about gas prices not because we don't want to change our way of life, but because the price of fuel is manipulated by an oligarchy, who make obscene profits while they DESTROY our way of life.

I have long been a proponent of obscene gas taxes, with reciprocal reduction in sales or income taxes. Tax it up to $5/L, and cut sales tax to zero. Force people to get out of their SUV's and into compacts. And force people out of their compacts and into micro cars that get 80-100 MPG.