A Nation Of NIMBYs?

"Opposition to development has become a growth industry.

First came the so-called NIMBYs (for "not in my backyard"), who are usually homeowners that oppose sprawling mega-malls and factories and plants near their residences.

Now they've been joined by two other acronyms, according to Patrick Fox, president of Saint Consulting Group, which helps steer developers through the approval process. They are BANANAs ("build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone") and CAVE people ("citizens against virtually everything").

According to a new poll by Saint of a thousand people nationwide, 78 percent of Americans oppose any new development in their communities, up from 73 percent last year. One in four respondents said they actually took a part in some action against a project."