Reply #9: It even happens in microcosms

[greekspeak]

I hail originally from Springfield, Missouri. Springfield has done everything in its power to cause its inner core to rot, while dashing south like a sprinter for the gold. So now, south of town, we have several cities trying to fight for rural land and see who will be biggest. Take the town of Ozark, for instance. 20 years ago, it took a while to get to Ozark. Now, Ozark and Springfield nearly touch. And Nixa, to the west of Ozark and south of Springfield, is trying to do what Ozark is. My father told me the other day that another town, Battlefield, has annexed a good mile north of where it was even 10 years ago. It had 300 or so folks in it 20 years ago. Now Battlefield is several thousand. Growing up, we had two convience stores to walk to. Now, within that same distance, there are shopping centers, grocery markets, and countless neighborhoods. Homes are being packed into tiny lots. All the while, Springfield and its metro area hangs onto its provincial notions when it comes to social and religious issues.