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Anti-Capitalism
Why Do I See so Few Kids Playing Outdoors?
I’m blaming capitalism-run-amok
There’s not a whole lot of open space in my neighborhood. Most of us live in multi-family homes with backyards that are more or less parking lots. Here’s a story I wrote about my street, the photo is current.
There are several “tot” parks with playground equipment within walking distance, but you would have to walk or bike about a mile to get to a basketball court, baseball or soccer field.
I grew up in a neighborhood similar to the one where I live now, but with one big difference: there used to be multitudes of kids out playing in the streets. Not so today.
I don’t want this to be a “back in my day” tale, because society has greatly changed over the past decades, with parents and children now living lives that my generation never imagined (digital everything, social media, and financial inequality not seen in the US since the Gilded Age).
