Sounds Familiar

I found the Duncan article to be a true representation of what is going on in many small towns across America. As the large cities become more crowded, and highway systems make commuting increasingly easier, more people want to and can experience the "country setting". Most often wanting to close the door to others on their way in. I see the zoning as Bedfords effort to keep the landscape as a pure form of what they want it to be, never changing from, at least in some of their minds, an ideal past. What they don't realize is that with new housing and people that the ideal landscape, that they all dream of and are trying to preserve has already been changed from the ideal and cannot be repaired.

The people of Bedford have a made a classification based purely on socio-economic status and how each group fits within. I guess the question that I have is, do those unseen boundaries ever get blurred? For example, if someone from the tradesman class, say, wins the lottery, does his status increase with his bank account, or is he always seen as a lower status? He can buy an alpha house but is he truly an alpha? The point I'm trying to make is that when the alpha and really the betas for that matter look at status, does it ever really matter how rich you are? We can all achieve wealth, but can we achieve the status that goes with old money?

As I read the Duncan article on Bedford Village I could have sworn that he was talking about where I live. The town is separated in much the same way, especially when talking about the alpha and beta segments of the population. There is a village center that cannot change in any way without controversy, working class neighborhoods, similar to the Tradesman's landscape and a zoning code (along with some of the locals) that tries to keep anything objectionable out. Much like Bedford, many have boycotted the drugstore (myself included) when the local owner sold out to a chain. Most prefer to shop at the local market and patronize the local businesses if possible.

Here the alphas live on a hill at what used to be the edge of town, called of all things Mt. Parnassus. The area is set up about the same as the residential neighborhood in Bedford, curving streets, large trees, and separation from others. Most know this area as the "old money". The betas live in the new development that used to be a large farm on the east side of town. Their lots are usually about an acre, but the houses are mostly the same, large and boring. The betas try to show off their "wealth" in pretty much the same way as the betas in Bedford, the look at me and what I have mode. The only problem is that it is only a show for the neighbors. The homes may look good on the outside but they are empty on the inside. On the other side of town you find the smaller houses and gardens of the tradesman. There is a decidedly different character between the east and west side of town, with the lots on the west being smaller and houses closer together giving it the feel of a neighborhood. When we moved there 20 years ago, we came to know all the neighbors. Now as older neighbors move or die and new people move in, we find that we only know a few people, but only in passing.

The biggest difference is the amount of diversity out here. There are so many different races and religions here as compared to Bedford. As of last count there are at least 9 actual church buildings all practicing a different religion and many other religions that meet in non church buildings. There also seems to be more interaction among the differing groups than in Bedford.

As with most areas, change is inevitable. Granville, as is common with most small villages only will address zoning when a project that some find objectionable comes to town. The local government will react to the problem when they have no other choices available. The people from all classes will only speak up when they feel that their ideal landscape is threatened. However once the threat is gone, most of the classes will go back to their perceived rank in the community.