Quote:
Originally Posted by
Detroitnerd
Retroit: What you fail to grasp is that regions work because city, suburb and country are all doing what they do best, appealing to those who enjoy a certain lifestyle, and profiting from each others' excellence.
That is very true Detroitnerd, but I think you are overestimating the number of people that want to live in downtowns or "dense" areas, and you're underestimating those who want to live in quiet suburbs.
Quote:
The effort to have suburbs at the expense of cities is, so far, not very successful.
The suburbs are very successful. Most of us are quite happy out here, even recent ex-Detroiters. Detroit is not failing because it doesn't have enough high-rises and subways. It's failing because of the way people live [[crime, destruction, lack of morals, not holding elected officials accountable, etc.)
Quote:
Other cities look at metro Detroit as a backward place, not because of Detroit, but because the region doesn't work together.
...not because the region doesn't work together, but because the people within the city don't work together.
Quote:
We have some very nice suburbs, true, but they don't have downtowns.
And don't want downtowns, at least not on the order of downtown Detroit. We want peace and quiet.
Quote:
We have a nice downtown in Detroit, but awful neighborhoods.
Not quite true [[but improving), and quite true.
Quote:
And the country? You have to drive for a goddamn hour to get into the country here,...
Who cares? What are you going out there for? Fresh air?
Quote:
...as we've spent the last 20 years filling it up with junky exurban places that will probably be empty in another 20 years.
For your information [[I know you know, of course), the City of Detroit was once largely farm land. We started filling up the farm land a long, long time ago...and will continue filling it up...unless you have a way of convincing people not to reproduce.
Quote:
It's a goddamn mess.
Some parts are, some parts aren't. The City of Detroit is [[mostly), and the suburbs aren't [[mostly). Take your pick.
Quote:
And it's because, once a person moves to Novi or Farmington Hills, they say, "To hell with everybody else. Fuck them. I've got mine. Let them fight for theirs." And that's the philosophy that's sinking us, regionally.
What is wrong with people creating a place that they enjoy living. Are you suggesting that people in Novi and Farmington Hills should dictate how others should live? Let everyone decide where and how they want to live.
Quote:
But it's changing. Even right-wing jerkoffs like Patterson get it these days:
I think you completely misunderstood Brook. He has always been willing to work with Detroit. Can the opposite also be said. The Detroit Shitty Clown Show is not going to take the advice of Brook. They know better. Didn't you know that?
Quote:
The destiny of the city and its suburbs are tied together.
True.
Quote:
And no amount of suburbanite chest-thumping will change that.
And no amount of urban chest-thumping will change that. Agreed?
Quote:
Based on your comments, I take it you're a classic example of somebody who either fears, distrusts, hates or misunderstands what cities are.
Fear? No, unless you mean the crime. Distrust? No, unless you mean the politicians. Hates? I would hate living there, but I don't hate the fact that they exist. Misunderstands? No, I just prefer not to live there.
Can YOU say that YOU don't fear, distrust, hate, or misunderstand the suburbs?
Quote:
And no efforts to educate you about the issues will change that, because, at a certain point, your suburban triumphalism will just take over and you'll start happily burbling about expressways and home values and how all these people are moving to the suburbs,..
How else am I going to convince you that you're wrong?
Quote:
... neglecting to mention that the reason they're moving there is that they're fleeing a disorganized, underfunded wreck of a city...
And whose fault is that? You Detroiters create a city that I would like to live in, and I will move there.
Quote:
...that you cheerfully live next to without a qualm in the world. :rolleyes:
What power do I have to change it. If I walked down the streets of Detroit with a bullhorn yelling "Do not steal, do not kill, do not have sex if you are not willing to deal with the consequences, go to school, don't take drugs, clean up your property, discipline your kids", how do you think that would go over?