Thank goodness!

The Collegian finally has a columnist who can write a thought-provoking, witty and well-composed column.

I am referring to Daniel Moore's column ("Driving to this local European-style 'open-air market' feels a bit wrong," Sept. 25).

I agree with Moore's analysis and would extend his discussion about the new shopping center to include a critique of its pseudo-park-like environment.

Who were the designers trying to fool by placing benches and a fountain within parking lots and main access roads?

Who will use that location for relaxing reflection after their day's shopping experience?

During the few times I have driven through this urban-planning disaster, I have not seen a soul anywhere near this "park."

What if instead of this showpiece of poor design, the forest that once stood at that location was left in place and built around?

What if more people saw through the advertising scheme of the supermarket and shopped at the real open-air market downtown?

What if the supermarket was built closer to the majority of this town's residential areas, so that people could walk and bike to it rather than drive?

Perhaps our communities wouldn't become sprawling, hap-hazardly developed, unsustainable urban planning messes.

Perhaps we would be less dependent on oil to run our society.

Perhaps this would lead to a reduction in causes for a war in the Mideast.

The type of discussion Moore raises should be more of a regular feature in The Daily Collegian.

Thanks to him for showing how effectively it can be done.