Oh, what we can learn from Detroit.

[Gaspar]

State of Michigan to take over Detroit tomorrow.
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-state-of-michigan-will-take-control-of-detroit-tomorrow-2013-2

Is Chicago next?

[DolfanBob]

I had read that this may take place. So when the State gets six Months in and says wholly crap this can't be fixed. What next? Sell it to Washington?

Sometimes it might be better to cut you're losses and send in Snake Plissken.

[Conan71]

I had read that this may take place. So when the State gets six Months in and says wholly crap this can't be fixed. What next? Sell it to Washington?

Sometimes it might be better to cut you're losses and send in Snake Plissken.

[Gaspar]

Not a bad idea.  If we were to turn it into a prison, we wouldn't have to relocate too many people.

[Gaspar]

. . .or they could sell it to Texas.  Texas could use a Northern territory.

[Hoss]

wonder how long before we see these guys as a start up?

[Ed W]

The governor already appointed an overseer for Benton Harbor.  There are some obvious problems with it.  First, the duly elected government of that town is no longer in charge.  They can hold a city council meeting, call it to order, and immediately adjourn, but they cannot conduct any business.  Only the governor's appointee has real authority.
Local democracy be damned.

Second, by taking over Detroit, governor Rick Snyder has asserted the state's power over a majority of the black voters in all of Michigan, effectively removing them from the political process. 

[guido911]

The governor already appointed an overseer for Benton Harbor.  There are some obvious problems with it.  First, the duly elected government of that town is no longer in charge.  They can hold a city council meeting, call it to order, and immediately adjourn, but they cannot conduct any business.  Only the governor's appointee has real authority.
Local democracy be damned.

Second, by taking over Detroit, governor Rick Snyder has asserted the state's power over a majority of the black voters in all of Michigan, effectively removing them from the political process.  

Did it occur to you that local democracy is to BLAME there? That racist swipe at the end is just desperate. Come on.  And this, by the way, is the mentality of some in that town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKb78kJhaMw

[dbacks fan]

Did it occur to you that local democracy is to BLAME there? That racist swipe at the end is just desperate. Come on.  And this, by the way, is the mentality of some in that town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKb78kJhaMw

Cute, accusing some one of a racist comment, and then posting a worn out sound bite that is obviously racially slanted commentary from Flush Limpbaugh.   

[Ed W]

Did it occur to you that local democracy is to BLAME there? That racist swipe at the end is just desperate. Come on.  And this, by the way, is the mentality of some in that town.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKb78kJhaMw

A couple of quick points, and then I'm off to work:

First, I generally don't bother following your links, Guido.  If you have a point to make, please make it yourself.

Second, you're right about local democracy being at fault for these city's problems.  They should also be responsible for fixing them.  Republicans usually argue in favor of local rule and allowing local people to decide on local issues.

There's probably more, but it's time to go

[Gaspar]

A couple of quick points, and then I'm off to work:


Second, you're right about local democracy being at fault for these city's problems.  They should also be responsible for fixing them.  Republicans usually argue in favor of local rule and allowing local people to decide on local issues.

There's probably more, but it's time to go

I actually agree with Ed here.  The fact that the state is allowed to swoop in and prop up the city is problematic.  They need to be allowed to fail, and fail miserably. The people elected a local government, and those they elected have been utterly irresponsible.  The people elected many of these folks on the basis of the "transformational" promises they made durring their campaigns.

Detroit's economy is currently dominated by Healthcare and government workforce, both of which pay little or no taxes.  The people of Detroit continue to vote for an ever increasing range of services to be provided by an ever decreasing number of tax payers.  This has a snowball effect and produces a diminishing and fragile community.  Combine that with an infrastructure that has grown far beyond necessity, and a recession, and you have Detroit.  They don't have a dynamic economy comprised of private industry nimble enough to adapt.

The only way to halt the decline in a city like this is to elect officials that will focus on private sector economic growth, and be willing to cut public programs.  Unfortunately this is not what the voters wanted.  If the state or federal government bails them out, essentially they are rewarded for failure, and such failure will likely continue.

If on the other hand they are allowed to become insolvent, the citizens of Detroit, and nation as a whole is provided with a very valuable lesson, and perhaps after a period of reflection, new leaders will emerge, and the voters will support the concepts of responsible government.

[heironymouspasparagus]

If on the other hand they are allowed to become insolvent, the citizens of Detroit, and nation as a whole is provided with a very valuable lesson, and perhaps after a period of reflection, new leaders will emerge, and the voters will support the concepts of responsible government.

You might be surprised to know that I also agree with a lot of what you said there - would that it could be done...or would be done.  As far as the last statement, though - the nation as a whole has been provided a very valuable lesson, and yet, we still have John Boener as Speaker.  So, even with 30 years of reflection about where this country has headed, we are a larger, less desperate version of Detroit...deep in debt, poor getting poorer, middle class moving to the suburbs, rich leaving (renouncing their citizenship).  And all through that 30 years, we have given lip service to what you say, and in reality, just "given away the store" to the 1% and above.

To paraphrase one sentence in particular - the people elected a federal government, and those they elected have been utterly irresponsible.

[Gaspar]

You might be surprised to know that I also agree with a lot of what you said there - would that it could be done...or would be done.  As far as the last statement, though - the nation as a whole has been provided a very valuable lesson, and yet, we still have John Boener as Speaker.  So, even with 30 years of reflection about where this country has headed, we are a larger, less desperate version of Detroit...deep in debt, poor getting poorer, middle class moving to the suburbs, rich leaving (renouncing their citizenship).  And all through that 30 years, we have given lip service to what you say, and in reality, just "given away the store" to the 1% and above.

To paraphrase one sentence in particular - the people elected a federal government, and those they elected have been utterly irresponsible.

Can't necessarily disagree except where you finger Boener.  Not the best speaker, but the guy has passed 3 budgets.  He's just done a $hitty job resisting increases in spending and dealing with a president who wants to wait until the last day of every crisis, then meet for 7 minutes for a photo-op and move on.  Boener is first owned by the Tea Party, and then owned by the president.  If you want to play the Obama board game, "BLAME", then you need to include both parties in congress and the administration, for choosing politics over duty.  In fact, I don't see how you can give the president any kind of pass when repeatedly we see him choose to hit the campaign trail instead of sitting at the negotiation table.  As the executive, he is supposed to lead from the front, not the back.

[guido911]

Cute, accusing some one of a racist comment, and then posting a worn out sound bite that is obviously racially slanted commentary from Flush Limpbaugh.   

You calling me racist? Just say it, otherwise back off. And I would think twice about throwing out the race card, because I sure as hell didn't think that about that in posting the video. Here's a better clip so as not to offend your "shoot the messenger" sensibilities.

[guido911]

I actually agree with Ed here.  The fact that the state is allowed to swoop in and prop up the city is problematic.  They need to be allowed to fail, and fail miserably. The people elected a local government, and those they elected have been utterly irresponsible.  The people elected many of these folks on the basis of the "transformational" promises they made durring their campaigns.

I could not disagree more. Detroit is not like a private corporation. There are real people that need police protection, fire protection, healthcare services, and very basic needs for life that will be lost if Detroit is allow to "fail miserably". What's more, the more it fails, the more it will cost the everyday tax payers throughout Michigan, or that kick in for Obama's stash, that will be left with the bill.