Detroit

[500grains]

That is the end result of liberal entitlement programs, and unless things turn around, it appears to be where the whole country is headed.

[Mjolnir]

That is the end result of liberal entitlement programs, and unless things turn around, it appears to be where the whole country is headed.

How about NAFTA, GATT, WTO, CAFTA and FTAA with the North American Union waiting in the wings? People forget - or never knew -that "free trade" policies killed Detroit, Michigan and the whole Middle Classmin the USA.

[CGSteve]

Google "feral houses Detroit" for a real eye opener. Lots of pictures at these links.

http://www.jamesgriffioen.net/index..../feral-houses/

http://www.sweet-juniper.com/2009/07/feral-houses.html

The show "Life After People" can just go there and film, not have to use any CGI whatsoever and be completely believable.

[sparky241]

for your viewing pleasure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hhJ_49leBw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6WKMNmFsxM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pd2qckrl_4

[RogerinTPA]

Yeah it's pretty sad from where I grew up inner city. I was there a couple of months ago and couldn't believe it. I drove by my old neighborhood and it's still is good shape with some homes in pristine condition, however, it is surrounded by streets with vacant lots, and some entire blocks leveled. What a waste. Most, if not all of my relatives, have moved 20-50 miles away.

[Bubba FAL]

Detroit is my hometown and as I tell people - a "good place to be from".

The decline started a long time ago. One of my earliest memories was standing in my backyard watching the Hueys flying over following Grand River towards downtown when Gov. Romney called out the MNG and Johnson sent in the 82nd in '67. Nothing like seeing M48s and M60s on the freeway overpasses!

What is especially heartbreaking is that I recognize many of the neighborhoods that are shown in the documentary. 50 years of entitlement programs have worked wonders for our cities. So much for the "Great Society"...

[GermanSynergy]

That is the end result of liberal entitlement programs, and unless things turn around, it appears to be where the whole country is headed.

Spot on.

[30 cal slut]

Born and raised there.

Once I left to go to skool on east coast, I vowed I would never return there. If I had to move back, I'd poke my eyes out.

Having said that ... Detroit is what happens when a region gets too dependent on one industry. Everything there was tied to the Big 3.

What contributed to the decline of the Big 3?

-Aggressive labor unions that made U.S. made cars expensive and companies less profitable. Remember the guy earning $50/hour to sweep a floor and got to retire with full pension and medical?

-Hidebound managements (esp GM) that weren't able to adapt to the ass-whuppin they were getting from overseas competitors.

-The spike in fuel prices (remember when oil went to $150/bbl not too long ago) didn't exactly help when most of the Big 3 were pitching SUV's and light trucks.

Detroit was a shit hole to start with and has been on a steady decline, with or without dem/liberal politics. It's not really honest to blame politicians when economic misfortune strikes. If we can fault the politicians, it's for a lack of vision in urban and economic planning. Governors and mayors could have courted dildo manufacturers to set up plants in Detroit, for example.

And it becomes a vicious cycle. No jobs, young smart people move out. What you have left are retirees/empty nesters and the folks in the inner city. Contrary to public opinion, many of the folks living downtown are hardworking but there ain't jobs.

It's pretty sad when you have to go across the river to Windsor (Ontario, Canada) for a bit of culture. It's amazing how different that place feels just a stone's throw across.

But Detroit is also symptomatic of a larger issue - we don't make jack here that people want to buy anymore. There has been a structural shift in recent decades - we've sent manufacturing and capital and technical know-how overseas. Why? Labor costs, costly gov't regulations, and the lack of will to build a better widget.

Damn, I think I'll go jump off a bridge now. Hey, those M&P's are still made here, right?

ETA: there is a silver lining. A lot of the downtown areas are being converted to farmland, so unoccupied homes are less of a blight.

[cobra90gt]

Yeah, definitely relied on one industry - automotive; can't put all your eggs in one basket.

The ironic part is that the actual "downtown" district isn't all that shabby (RenCen, Hockeytown, Comerica, Greektown, Casinos, etc).

The surrounding Detroit neighborhoods within the city limits are what look like a war zone (ie - all the pictures that news media publish). That's where the majority of the vacant lots, abandoned houses, burnt homes, dope houses are located - all the way north up towards the 8 Mile border, where things begin to get better (relatively speaking).

Fun stuff.

[30 cal slut]

Yeah, definitely relied on one industry - automotive; can't put all your eggs in one basket.

The ironic part is that the actual "downtown" district isn't all that shabby (RenCen, Hockeytown, Comerica, Greektown, Casinos, etc).

The surrounding Detroit neighborhoods within the city limits are what look like a war zone (ie - all the pictures that news media publish). That's where the majority of the vacant lots, abandoned houses, burnt homes, dope houses are located - all the way north up towards the 8 Mile border, where things begin to get better (relatively speaking).

Fun stuff.

Yup. North and West of 8 -Mile road is suburban. Downtown is a bright spot, and at least you can CCW there.

Most frequently experienced crime in the 'hood ... not violent stuff but a LOT of auto thefts. Everyone and their uncle knows how to break into and hot wire a car. It's a skill all of us learned in junior high school.

I've lived in Manhattan and other large cities - Detroit takes the prize for car theft.