The United States of Suburbia: How the Suburbs Took Control of America and What They Plan to Do with It

U.S. suburbs have wrested political control of the country from big cities over the past 50 years, according to Thomas, a demographer, historian and former Washington reporter for National Public Radio. Adroitly using polls, computer analyses and comments from top Clinton strategists, Thomas reveals how candidate Clinton targeted both of his presidential campaigns directly at moderate suburban voters rather than at urban liberals, on whom the Democratic Party historically relied as its base of support. Thomas offers a demographic profile of suburban voters as largely centrists who believe in a limited role for government in addressing such issues as poverty, homelessness and racial discrimination. He shows that suburbanites support free-trade agreements, welfare cuts and an end to affirmative action while disdaining cities, disliking central authority and believing the U.S. should no longer play the role of global cop. Thomas predicts that massive federal aid will not be forthcoming to tackle cities' pressing problems. A ""selective urban renaissance"" targeting particular needs, from downtowns to museums and expressways, he says, is the most that can be expected. Thomas also offers advice to office seekers, e.g., ""Democrats must make suburban voters their primary target""; ""Republicans must resist any strategy based on regionalism."" Although readers may not agree with his pessimistic conclusions, pundits, opinion makers, strategists and political candidates will find this censuslike foray into America's political future to be a compendium of useful statistics and ideas. (Sept.)