Underground alternative economies of the D

**O3H** · June-29-17, 07:02 PM

People have always worked for cash, bartered, exchanged.
Not everyone keeps accurate precise governmental records
How prevalent is money "Off Da Books" in metro Detroit ?

http://inthesetimes.com/article/2021...my-gift-barter

**Honky Tonk** · June-30-17, 04:15 AM

Originally Posted by O3H

People have always worked for cash, bartered, exchanged.
Not everyone keeps accurate precise governmental records
How prevalent is money "Off Da Books" in metro Detroit ?

http://inthesetimes.com/article/2021...my-gift-barter

Damn good article. I have some household items I need to shed. I think I'll pay them a visit.

**Zacha341** · June-30-17, 07:39 AM

Goodness, I would have wanted to stay anonymous and not posted my name in that article if I were running a food service set on the low-low.

**Honky Tonk** · June-30-17, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Goodness, I would have wanted to stay anonymous and not posted my name in that article if I were running a food service set on the low-low.

Good point, Zacha341. The whole operation will probably get picked off by the COD. More brownie points stopping that hard core crime in the City.

**401don** · June-30-17, 08:38 AM

It appears the city turns a blind eye to these operations. I was surprised when folks had no problem being filmed by Anthony Bourdain on his CNN Parts Unknown show. These guys were advertising/barbecuing in their front yards.

**O3H** · June-30-17, 05:03 PM

Do you think Detroit has "more" of an underground economy than other cities around the USA struggling with revenue, services, infrastructure, etc.

**Zacha341** · June-30-17, 05:40 PM

I would say many large cities with distressed economics would have a level of underground economics!

**archfan** · July-01-17, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Good point, Zacha341. The whole operation will probably get picked off by the COD. More brownie points stopping that hard core crime in the City.

He could probably make a couple of changes and qualify under the Michigan Cottage Food law. It lets people do small scale food sales out of a home kitchen.

**O3H** · July-02-17, 03:10 PM

Should there be a crackdown on these illegal economies in the D ?

**rex** · July-02-17, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

Should there be a crackdown on these illegal economies in the D ?

of course not

**O3H** · July-03-17, 10:36 AM

Obviously the "economies" are not hard to find.
Detroit needs revenue, they should encourage small business startups.
Do everything above board, legally, cheaply, with minimal restrictions.

If it's all jacked up with intense regulations, fees, encumberments, etc.
--- the underground flourishes, thrives, becomes vibrant

**Honky Tonk** · July-03-17, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by O3H

Obviously the "economies" are not hard to find.
Detroit needs revenue, they should encourage small business startups.
Do everything above board, legally, cheaply, with minimal restrictions.

If it's all jacked up with intense regulations, fees, encumberments, etc.
--- the underground flourishes, thrives, becomes vibrant

You're right, Detroit needs revenue. They should encourage all the thousands of millennials that moved in to change their addresses and start paying City taxes.

**O3H** · July-03-17, 10:58 AM

Really Michigan should straight up say F you to the Car insurance companies.
Stop crushing folks with exorbitant fees, so they "can" pay city taxes.

Michigan is soooooo backwards with many of its day-to-day functions.
People just want to provide for their families, have shelter and food.
Why can't Snyder and others put an end to extortion via insurance ?

There are distinct, clear, reasons underground economies exist.

**EastsideAl** · July-03-17, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by O3H

Really Michigan should straight up say F you to the Car insurance companies.
Stop crushing folks with exorbitant fees, so they "can" pay city taxes.

Michigan is soooooo backwards with many of its day-to-day functions.
People just want to provide for their families, have shelter and food.
Why can't Snyder and others put an end to extortion via insurance ?

There are distinct, clear, reasons underground economies exist.

The biggest problem with auto insurance comes down to a few clinics in the city who game the system for huge amounts of money, and give a lot of it to state officeholders to protect their scam [[ahem... "entrepreneurial free market initiative" to the GOP).

**Honky Tonk** · July-03-17, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

The biggest problem with auto insurance comes down to a few clinics in the city who game the system for huge amounts of money, and give a lot of it to state officeholders to protect their scam [[ahem... "entrepreneurial free market initiative" to the GOP).

Gee, Al, weren't insurance rates already sky-high while Grand Ho' and all DEM were in office? Or did they suddenly climb after Snydly took over?

**Zacha341** · July-04-17, 06:30 AM

Insurance was high under Granholm and at least Snyder ditched the Michigan Drivers Responsibility Fee that was on the books under her administration.

**O3H** · July-04-17, 10:08 AM

The point is - the creation of underground economies - due to state policy

**Honky Tonk** · July-04-17, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Insurance was high under Granholm and at least Snyder ditched the Michigan Drivers Responsibility Fee that was on the books under her administration.

You're not supposed too point that out, Zach's341, those are Reps, they're evil. Dems be the ones...

**Zacha341** · July-04-17, 11:20 AM

....

.... More specifically Dems only do good things! That's the rub.

**Zacha341** · July-04-17, 11:21 AM

Well yeah I get that... And more undergrounds will emerge as the dollar value shrinks further, fewer jobs, and your inability to keep what you earn [[confiscatory taxing up the wazoo)!

Originally Posted by O3H

The point is - the creation of underground economies - due to state policy

**O3H** · July-04-17, 12:19 PM

The U.S. dollar dropped to a 12-month low against the euro ,
and weakened against the pound , in world currency markets recently.
It also slipped considerably against the Canadian dollar in the last month

**313WX** · July-04-17, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Well yeah I get that... And more undergrounds will emerge as the dollar value shrinks further, fewer jobs, and your inability to keep what you earn [[confiscatory taxing up the wazoo)!

Why do you think the dollar's value will shrink further?

Between Trump's proposed spending spree and the mess that has become of the EURO, the dollar will likely remain historically strong for the foreseeable future.

**313WX** · July-04-17, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

The biggest problem with auto insurance comes down to a few clinics in the city who game the system for huge amounts of money, and give a lot of it to state officeholders to protect their scam [[ahem... "entrepreneurial free market initiative" to the GOP).

True.

Reforming Michigan's law to limit the amount of medical coverage auto insurers are responsible for would go a long way in bringing down the costs for everyone.

**313WX** · July-04-17, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

You're right, Detroit needs revenue. They should encourage all the thousands of millennials that moved in to change their addresses and start paying City taxes.

Duggan has started doing just that...

https://www.detroityes.com/mb/showth...ve-in-the-City

**313WX** · July-04-17, 01:03 PM

I do have to laugh though, the city has managed to effectively knee-cap the one semi-successful industry [[marijuana distribution) that was burgeoning once Michigan legalized weed for medicinal use.

In case you didn't hear, James Craig has been actively working to raid and shut down the shops who "aren't operating within the confines of the law" [[which was about 90% of them).

For fuck's sake, just legalize marijuana completely and tax it. It'll be a win-win for everyone.