If you look at the greater picture, the reality is that most land on earth, even land deemed livable, is vacant. There lies the solution to the problem. The only question that remains is: how do we get people to move there?
how do we get people to move there?
It seems the two of you agree, unless you feel that getting people to move there is a small problem that does not require action on many fronts.
Also, once you move enough people, real estate costs go up again and the problem isn't really solved.
Absent government subsidies for matters such as the provision of roads and utilities, as well as programs like Medicaid that help rural Americans find health care, rural Americans would be dirt poor.
I live in upstate New York. I know well the cities, the suburbs, and the rural backcountry. They are truly worlds apart.