What Iowans Think of Detroit

[English]

I'm in Iowa on a consulting job, and I'm surprised by a a number of things. I wonder if other Detroiters who have been here agree with my observations.

First, this place is completely Midwestern in a way that the rest of the Midwest simply isn't. The Great Lakes states are defined by the Lakes, industrial America, and the border with Canada. The southern halves of Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana seem more culturally "Upland South" than Midwestern. The prairie states are on the periphery of our region and share many more characteristics with the West. Yet Iowa is not on the Lakes, it doesn't border the South, and it's not the West. So what is it? The Midwest.

Iowa is defined, of course, by agriculture. I suppose my surprise is because I've been in a lot of other farming states that are far more conservative and religious. I find that even random Iowans whom you chat with in line for the morning Joe are very aware of current events and issues in their state, their region, and the world. Their local rags are full of everything to local agribusiness stuff to how Iowa's agriculture is affecting the world's ocean. After this visit, I don't think I'll ever quibble with them having the first say during presidential primaries again.

They also seem to wear the label of "Midwestern" proudly. [[They're also very proud of having a "Midwestern" president.) When they ask where I'm from and I say "Detroit, Michigan", it's almost like "well, that's all right, then... Midwest."

Which brings me to Detroit. This may be the first place outside of the Rust Belt where I find that every single person I've chatted with is genuinely concerned about Detroit, and especially the auto industry. Several said over lunch that the failure of the autos would affect them directly [[although I don't quite get how). Others insisted that nationalized health care might help not only the auto industry, but as one person pointed out to me, "What's happening to GM is eventually going to happen to other corporations outside the auto industry down the line." There's even an article about it in the weekly magazine -- "When Detroit Was King".

The last line of the article?

"Yes, Detroit, some of us still have faith in you."

You can't judge an entire state from one visit. But what a nice little place!

[d.mcc]

That's nicer than the reaction I get

"Detroit? Isn't it all thugs and trash there?"

"Detroit...Man...Who would ever want to live there, that place is a dump"

Mind you...most people who spout off the second, have never been near the city. Yup...I spend most of my time talking about Detroit, defending her, and those who love her.

[English]

Well, that's a bummer! Sorry you went through that. Was your last time in Iowa recently?

If people want, I can perhaps type excerpts of the positive article up when I get back home this weekend.

[Gistok]

I just had an acquaintance from Texas come to town on Monday who had never been to Detroit.

His wife told him to be careful.

I took him on a tour of the Fisher and Guardian Buildings, the remains of the Michigan Theatre, a drive up Woodward, a visit to Hitsville USA, a loop around Belle Isle, dinner at Greektown, a quick visit to Greektown Casino, a photo op under one of the Comerica Park tiger statues, and a loop around the People Mover.

He was amazed by what he saw, and is planning on returning with his wife and kids for a longer visit. He said that he had no idea that there was so much to see here...

[rid0617]

That's nicer than the reaction I get

"Detroit? Isn't it all thugs and trash there?"

"Detroit...Man...Who would ever want to live there, that place is a dump"

Mind you...most people who spout off the second, have never been near the city. Yup...I spend most of my time talking about Detroit, defending her, and those who love her.

Try living in the south and telling people you want to move to Detroit. It can get interesting

[rajdet]

I spent last winter on the tiny little island of Utila Honduras, part of the Bay Islands. Utila's main industry is in the training of people, mostly Europeans who are looking to become professionals in the SCUBA diving industry. Roughly the size of Detroit with a population of about 2,000 people and 2,000 dive professionals in training. Utila might be small and off the beaten path but the good people there do have internet and keep up with what’s going on in the rest of the world. I happened to be there when the text message scandal broke. There is a general perception that Detroiters wake up and leave their iron barred homes to step over used condoms, dirty needles, and last nights murder victims to go to work building cars and trucks in the factories. I spent most mornings defending Detroit over cafe con letche.
As a side note, I was in Roatan Honduras, also part of the Bay Islands when the United States invaded Iraq. There was no defense for that.

[d.mcc]

I apologize, I should have been more clear, I wasn't referring to Iowa, I was referring to the state of Florida, where I live now unfortunately

[ghettopalmetto]

That's nicer than the reaction I get

"Detroit? Isn't it all thugs and trash there?"

"Detroit...Man...Who would ever want to live there, that place is a dump"

Irony, thy name is "Florida".

[iheartthed]

Are we talking about Detroit the city or Detroit the industry?

As for Detroit the city:

In NYC, I get a mixture of ignorance and understanding about Detroit. The ignorance comes from people who are generally oblivious to the history of inner-city America for the past 50 years. These are the people who don't realize that all cities went through a period of decline similar to Detroit's in the 60s, 70s and 80s. They tend to be those who have migrated into the city within the past 20 years or so.

Then there are the understanders. These are people who were in New York during the 70s and 80s, and remember what New York was like when it was drug ridden and decaying rapidly. These people look at Detroit and are very sympathetic because they have lived through it themselves.

As for Detroit the industry:

There isn't a deep understanding here of why it is necessary for America to have an auto industry. There are pockets of sympathy, especially for the workers who will lose their jobs, but the American automobile industry is generally viewed as being past its prime. And many of these people think that the jobs that would be lost, should one or all of the automakers go bankrupt, will happen regardless. Also, the relation is often drawn between the prevalence of automobile friendly policies in America, and the decay of urban areas, so it's really hard to generate a lot of sympathy in a place like NYC, outside the thought of people losing their jobs.

[cman710]

Iheartthed, I think you make some very good points. As someone who grew up in NYC during the down times [[which I would say lasted roughly until 1994, really), I always had an understanding of the decline that cities have gone through. Perhaps the rebound of NYC is part of the reason I have such strong feelings about Detroit - a sense that things are bad, but could be much, much better.

[Lowell]

I'm not surprised the Iowans sympathized. Their flagship manufacturing product got gobbled up by a Michigan firm of all things.

This from Wikipedia...

Maytag Corporation was a $4.7 billion home and commercial appliance company, headquartered in Newton, Iowa from 1893-2006. With approximately 18,000 employees worldwide, it made and sold appliances.

The Whirlpool Corp. completed its acquisition of Maytag on April 1, 2006. In May 2006, Whirlpool announced plans to close the former Maytag headquarters office in Newton, as well as laundry manufacturing plants in Newton, Iowa, Herrin, Illinois and Searcy, Arkansas by 2007.[1] Following the Maytag closure, all administration will be in Whirlpool's headquarters in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The Maytag name will still be used on rebranded Whirlpool appliances, however most Maytag employees will be terminated, as some were offered jobs in Benton Harbor.

[eastsidechris]

Interesting thread. I'm a transplanted Detroiter, having been born, raised and educated in Iowa. I moved here in '98. Don't be so surprised about Iowans having opinions on national and world issues--Iowans are, on the whole, very well educated and the state usually finishes first or second in ACT scores each year. I'd say the average Iowan reads at least one paper each day and watches both the local and national news.

I will be the first to say that Iowa and Michigan are worlds away from each other in just about every way. One thing I had to get used to in moving here, for example, was the influence of unions; being an agricultural state, there is hardly a union presence at all in Iowa.

My parents love to visit Detroit because of all interesting things that there are to do here, from the museums to learning about the history that seems to be around every corner in Detroit. I think Iowa and Detroit are both places that get an unfair rap by people who have never really visited there, and once they do, they find good things to say about the place.