Lexington praises America's hinterland:
My column this week is about America's wide open spaces. I argue that America's colossal land mass is a big advantage, since it means the country can absorb vast numbers of immigrants (and new babies) without feeling crowded. I also look at how the internet is boosting remote places. It makes it easier to find out about them (people shop around online for places to live, and once you start comparing house prices and crime rates, places like Boise start to look very attractive). The internet also makes it easier to find interesting work in the boondocks. A broadband connection gives you nearly the same access to information as someone in New York or the Bay Area has.