  Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 69 Registered: 06-2005 |
Wondered if anyone else reads The Economist. They had a very balanced look at Detroit's current situation leading the United States section of this week's issue. Can't place a link to it since the online edition needs registration and I get the print edition mailed. I think the most pointed (and valid) quote was "All the while some city council members act like they would not mind if the Downtown hollowed out completely- so long as the last person to leave got union wages and benefits for turning out the lights." To paraphrase the rest of the article, Detroit is certainly on the upswing. But in the few short years since legalizing gambling, Detroit has become completely reliant on the $100m in tax money reaped from the casinos. The white and black middle classes have yet to return to the city en masse, resulting in a core of very poor people. Petty squabbling between city politicians and deep divisions between city, suburban and state leaders mean that the resurgence is at a tipping point. The only city in the entire country that has greater class stratification between the city proper and its suburbs is Hartford, CT. In short, any major political or economic bump in the road would likely result in the whole thing crashing down. I'm sure the cheerleaders are going to go nuts and call for boycotts of The Economist. But before you do at least try to find some way to read it and consider the fact that The Economist is one of the oldest, most respected and consistently balanced publications in the world. | ||
Gcia4life Member Username: Gcia4life Post Number: 1 Registered: 08-2006 |
http://www.economist.com/world /na/displaystory.cfm?story_id= 8633279 | ||
Yelloweyes Member Username: Yelloweyes Post Number: 14 Registered: 02-2007 |
I agree with the article. Everyone (metro Detroit) wants to panic when the big three start downward spiraling. As someone else pointed out, most have taken buyouts and this will help the economy. But more importantly Detroit is in for the long hall. The housing stock isn't going anywhere, the waterfronatge will always be here, the massive highway system remains. Detroit will have an economy with or without automobiles | ||
Scottr Member Username: Scottr Post Number: 224 Registered: 07-2006 |
quote: renovated sports stadiums? that in itself makes me question if he has any idea what he's talking about, and i'm not even done reading it. good to know he at least noticed some of the new things going on though. | ||
Scottr Member Username: Scottr Post Number: 225 Registered: 07-2006 |
Okay, after finishing it, I can't really argue with anything too much. nothing really new, and his conclusion is exactly what many here say regularly - we've made a great start, but we have a long long ways to go. It's not a lovefest, avoiding the issues facing the area, but it certainly doesn't ignore the good things that have happened either. | ||
Pmardo Member Username: Pmardo Post Number: 48 Registered: 03-2006 |
"And since Michigan as a whole is also suffering from the car industry's slide, there is little the state could do to help even if voters wanted it to." I don't quite agree with this statement. Granholm's administration could take great measures to pass smart growth initiatives that would channel growth in Detroit and other areas and work towards curbing urban sprawl. In fact, it is the state that is best positioned to work against sprawl, such as in Maryland under former governor Paris Glendenning. | ||
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73 Post Number: 189 Registered: 03-2006 |
I don't mean to thread-jack, but rugbyman, who did/do you play for? | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 74 Registered: 06-2005 |
In high school I helped start a Detroit Tradesmen "farm team" in Dearborn. I was a Lock and sometime Flanker. I played a little Lock my freshman year in college for the Tradesmen, but transferred to State and got too busy to play up there. Now I'm too tubby to run that much. Do you play? Always like to talk to a fellow rugger. | ||
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 3646 Registered: 10-2003 |
I didn't find the article too revealing, either about Detroit or the writer's POV. It was almost like a book report, but I thought the writer did a good book report. Overall it is a plus. | ||
Andyguard73 Member Username: Andyguard73 Post Number: 190 Registered: 03-2006 |
Rugbyman, I play hooker for CMU's rugby club and during the summer I play for Sarnia in the Niagra Union (I live right across the river in Port Huron.) Actually we're (Central) playing at the Tradesman Tourney on April 7th. If you end up going to the tourney shoot me an email ahead of time at andyguard89 at yahoo dot com, and we'll have to meet up. Everyone else, sorry for the thread-jacking  | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 76 Registered: 06-2005 |
Truthfully, Lowell, the "book report" flavor of writing is pretty much The Economist's hallmark. You'll also notice that the author of the article isn't listed. If you read between the lines, the argument they make is for decreased city control over secondary services and increased incentives for businesses and entrepreneurs (as per their almost dogmatic 160 year belief in the power of the free market). Granted, no new huge revelations, but I thought it was good coverage on such a huge stage (1.1 million plus worldwide readers weekly). | ||
Nyct Member Username: Nyct Post Number: 20 Registered: 01-2007 |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wor ld/americas/5165808.stm here's an article on detroit from the bbc. it's old ... from july 2006. i apologize if it's been posted before. |
