Excellent Common Sense Blog about Detroit Bankruptcy in NY Times

[sumas]

Thank you for sharing that article. I don't agree 100% BUT 98% is pretty good

[Wesley Mouch]

Thank you for sharing that article. I don't agree 100% BUT 98% is pretty good

Yes, pretty good. Few reporters out there look at this divide between City and region. People who haven't been to Detroit do not understand that distinction.

Detroit is the example par excellence of the seclusion of affluent [[and mostly white) elites in suburban enclaves. There is a rationale for battening down the hatches: the rich thus ensure that they don’t have to pay any share of the local public goods and services of their less well-off neighbors, and that their children don’t have to mix with those of lower socioeconomic status.

There's no doubt that there's a separation. What this reporter misses is that the separation is mutual and voluntary.

[Detroitnerd]

There's no doubt that there's a separation. What this reporter misses is that the separation is mutual and voluntary.

Yeah, we less affluent city residents just don't want to live around have-somes. Oh, and despite the fact that so many urban residents don't have the money to move anywhere, it's totally voluntary. Yup, nothing to see here!

I think what this reporter misses is that the separation is profitable and subsidized.

[sumas]

Yes, pretty good. Few reporters out there look at this divide between City and region. People who haven't been to Detroit do not understand that distinction.

[/FONT][/COLOR]There's no doubt that there's a separation. What this reporter misses is that the separation is mutual and voluntary.

Not sure about mutual. Of course I have seen reverse racism but mostly ignore it. It is a mental defense mechanism.

[Wesley Mouch]

Not sure about mutual. Of course I have seen reverse racism but mostly ignore it. It is a mental defense mechanism.

No, not race. But control.

The suburbs don't want Detroit's problems. And Detroit doesn't want suburban influence on its affairs.

Both sides want to keep the existing political boundaries in place.

[sumas]

No, not race. But control.

The suburbs don't want Detroit's problems. And Detroit doesn't want suburban influence on its affairs.

Both sides want to keep the existing political boundaries in place.

First I want to say I appreciate the many threads that concern Detroit issues and peoples input. I have weighed in here and there on one facet or another on small issue by small issue.

It is agreed Detroit problems are complex. As a Detroit resident and home owner, life long Detroiter [[did leave for awhile) would like to see a regional government, way more cost effective.

[rb336]

Another interesting take, this one of the long view

http://tinyurl.com/ma5w2dk

[Hermod]

Another interesting take, this one of the long view

http://tinyurl.com/ma5w2dk

Given her background, no wonder she blames everything on the PTB and "the man".

[rb336]

Given her background, no wonder she blames everything on the PTB and "the man".

Show me one thing that was factually wrong with her analysis.

[Wesley Mouch]

Show me one thing that was factually wrong with her analysis.

Applaud taking the long view, but I don't agree with her conclusions.

Detroit was beyond rescue and they were left to deal with up the mess created by a perfect storm of federal transportation policy [[driven by the auto industry and its allies in Congress) and federal housing initiatives, both of which combined to seal the city’s fate.

Does anyone believe that these two factors that weren't unique to Detroit 'made Detroit 'beyond rescue'? That they alone 'caused' our problems.

One could argue that Detroit was hit harder by transportation and housing policy -- I agree. But to ignore globalization, bad industrial policy, poor culture of landuse, racism, school bussing, and so much more does us a disservice.

That said, there's no doubt that housing policies were a significant contributor to our decline in particular. I remember hearing that HUD spent more in Detroit than anywhere else. So I agree that federal housing policy was a major factor. And transportation policies didn't do us many favors either. But those two things created a 'perfect storm'? Not buying it. Too simplistic.

Biggest problem? I don't accept the absolution of Detroit's actions. To avoid accepting that our actions were a contributor to our problems is to condemn us to continuing failure.

[corktownyuppie]

Biggest problem? I don't accept the absolution of Detroit's actions. To avoid accepting that our actions were a contributor to our problems is to condemn us to continuing failure.

I don't accept the absolution of Detroit's actions, either. I also am tiring of everyone blaming the state...Wall Street...deindustrialization...capitalism...etc.

We need to get to a point where everyone realizes that no one is blameless and that everyone had a pivotal -- even if inadvertant -- role.

[Hermod]

Show me one thing that was factually wrong with her analysis.

She wrote: "If there are fingers to be pointed, they need to arc back farther to the reigns of Mayors Cavanagh and Miriani, Gov. Romney and big oil. If there are lessons to be learned they are ones that should makes us wary of and oppose racial discrimination, demand corporate accountability and responsibility for the social toll their actions take, thoughtfully protect our public assets of which public transportation is one of the greatest and always question those who would build highways to escape rather than mend the mess they’ve made."

It could just as well have said:

If there are fingers to be pointed, they need to arc back farther to the reigns of Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and the overwhelming Democratic majorities in both house of congress. If there are lessons to be learned they are ones that should makes us wary of and oppose social engineering, demand government accountability and responsibility for the social toll their actions take, etc."

Something does not have to be factually wrong to be slanted and biased.

[rb336]

Something does not have to be factually wrong to be slanted and biased.

It's a minor thing that - compared to the media coverage that virtually ignores the roots of the problem and blames nothing but the unions and black politicians

[marshamusic]

Another interesting take, this one of the long view

http://tinyurl.com/ma5w2dk

Great article! [[given my background).