Gated communities are becoming more popular all the time. Since the 1970's, they have increased in number until they make up (as of 2003) 10% of the
new houses being constructed, with that number going to 30% coverage in urban areas.
These communities are promoted by the real estate industry as being just like neighborhoods of days gone by (i.e. Mayberry). Safe, secure
neighborhoods where your children can play safely, and the evildoers can't get in. They are promoted as communities of like-minded people with whom
to share your leisure time (i.e. golf communities) or your interests (equestrian-themed communities, or "fly-in" communities in which most
home-owners are pilots, and have airplane hangers built onto the houses). They are promoted as similar lifestyle communities (singles communities,
over 55 communities)
In reality, these gated communities, whether they be a housing development or a secure condo/apartment building, are driving a wedge into our real
communities, the towns and cities. Nothing accentuates differences of status like a locked gate, where some are free to come and go, while others can
never hope to afford entry.
The division is seen clearly at the border of private/public land. Road maintenance, trash collection, and landscaping make it obvious where the
municipality ends and the private entity begins, where the haves and the have-nots part company.
These communities breed mis-trust in the "outside element "by residents, and breed resentment in the non-residents (What are they, better then me?
Scumbags!)
Of course, the local governments love them. Residents of gated communities pay property tax every year, yet the upkeep of these communities cost the
government nothing, being paid for out of "Homeowner Association" fees. Free money for the government. How do you beat that?
There are several social negatives brought about by these segre"gated" communities, not the least of which is just keeping the residents separated
from the rest of the population. With home, like-minded neighbors, and built-in leisure time facilities ( golf and tennis courts) on premises, there
is much less co-mingling in the melting pot. No learning of the differences that keep societies thriving and ever-changing.
As the laws of thermodynamics state, in a closed system, entropy always increases.
Entropy translates to stagnation in a society, and this is never good.
Now, besides just the free income, there is a more insidious (in my opinion) reason for the government to like gated communities: security. Yes, that
same security that gave you visions of happy, carefree children playing beneath the pear tree.
What's wrong with security? you ask. Isn't that a good thing? Yep. In fact, it's so good that the US government is going to give some to the Iraqi
people. Nice, safe, gated communities, scoured clean of the stain of insurgency. Guarded by US and Iraqi troops.
The suicide bombers can't get to you. Of course, if you need to go to the market for some food or whatever, you need to pass through a checkpoint
where, you never know, you might be turned away, told you can't leave right now. Trapped like a rat.
source
And speaking of trapped like a rat, imagine, as so many do these days, the implementation of martial law in the US. Due to pandemic flu, riots,
terrorist attack, or whatever the excuse du jour would be. It would take no more then two men and a truck to effectively secure a community of
hundreds, maybe thousands. One way in, one way out. Unless, of course, you want to walk
Yes, I believe that gated communities are ultimately a means to keep the citizens rounded up nice and neat, without even the expense of having to
build a camp to put them in.
Additional sources:
www.international.ucla.edu...
heavytrash.blogspot.com...
