Author Topic: Detroit, Michigan (Read 1286 times)

JB88 · « **Reply #30 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:26:05 AM »

lazs made me laugh.

guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.

midnight Target · « **Reply #31 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:32:14 AM »

Maybe we should look at the idiotic business decisions of Ford and GM etc. Basically we have a city of millions experiencing a great depression.

lazs2 · « **Reply #32 on:** February 16, 2008, 10:19:51 AM »

that wasn't too bad MT.. it was the twenty foot high walls with guard towers that the car companies built around detroit to keep the poor downtrodden union guys and negros in that is the real evil.

lazs

midnight Target · « **Reply #33 on:** February 16, 2008, 07:13:48 PM »

If only there were more white people there....

If only it were New York, and people gave a crap like they did in the 70's when NYC was about to go belly up.

Not a doubt in my mind that the huge minority population of Detroit has a lot to do with the amount of apathy shown toward the demise of one of our greatest cities.

Shaky · « **Reply #34 on:** February 16, 2008, 07:21:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by midnight Target
If only there were more white people there....

If only it were New York, and people gave a crap like they did in the 70's when NYC was about to go belly up.

Not a doubt in my mind that the huge minority population of Detroit has a lot to do with the amount of apathy shown toward the demise of one of our greatest cities.

In other words, its white peoples fault since the blacks screwed the city up and most whites don't give a crap?

ya know, it's this "blame whitey at all costs" stuff like this thats going to be the real problem in this country...you cry wolf so much, who the hell is going to listen to you when the real Klan shows up...or care?

Charon · « **Reply #35 on:** February 16, 2008, 08:03:31 PM »

Quote

If only there were more white people there....

If only it were New York, and people gave a crap like they did in the 70's when NYC was about to go belly up.

Not a doubt in my mind that the huge minority population of Detroit has a lot to do with the amount of apathy shown toward the demise of one of our greatest cities.

What's the solution MT? I can't think of any outside, non-market driven solution that would save a Detroit. NYC had a lot going on -- major financial center, culture, tourism potential, etc. The upside way eclipsed the problems. Same with Chicago and why it never became a Detroit. New Orleans survived with major issues on tourism and some oil industry base, but those might not be strong enough to rebuild there.

What does Detroit have that tourists, industry or commercial ventures want? How much money should we throw at it trying to make something work that likely will never work without a strong Auto Industry? What should we do with one or two generations of virtually uneducated, unmotivated people populating the war zones? How do you get them to the point where they will get a job? To where you might hire them at your company, for example. To where they can fill out an employment application even?

What can we do to fix the corruption, graft and waste before we throw the money at it? Why should we expect the government to use your or my tax dollars any more wisely fixing up Detroit than they do with any Govt. project?

And what role does personal responsibility play in cleaning up your own neighborhood, and your own problems? To where snitchin' on gangbangers isn't a bad thing. To where you don't dump garbage in the streets or tolerate crackheads on your corners?

Charon

JB88 · « **Reply #36 on:** February 16, 2008, 08:16:32 PM »

charon,

for the longest time i have been trying to figure out what your avatar character/person is.

closest i can approximate is Miller from the movie repo man.

am i even even close?

Gunthr · « **Reply #37 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:09:06 PM »

Quote

Not a doubt in my mind that the huge minority population of Detroit has a lot to do with the amount of apathy shown toward the demise of one of our greatest cities. -MT

MT, I do share your sadness about Detroit. There were so many good restaurants on St. Antoine, in Greek Town, and good ribs by the bridge to Canada, and wonderful plays at the Fisher theater. But MT, the fate of this city is the direct result of the politics you hold so dear.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #38 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:28:13 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by JB88
charon,

for the longest time i have been trying to figure out what your avatar character/person is.

closest i can approximate is Miller from the movie repo man.

am i even even close?

Bingo!

JB88 · « **Reply #39 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:54:23 PM »

well i'll be darned. i got it right. thanks diablo.

"john wayne's a studmuffin" - miller

lazs2 · « **Reply #40 on:** February 17, 2008, 10:15:42 AM »

MT... you may be right.. the more white people you have in a place in America.. the better the situation.. the lower the crime.. the better the place is to live.

Problem is.. those pesky white people as a rule.. tend to leave places that are worthless or about to be flooded by hurricane or burned to the ground. they don't whine.. they leave.

Oh.. MT.. one of my friends has a negro girlfriend.. I spent the day with negros. Have pics if I have to prove it. Thought you would get a kick out of it.

lazs

Charon · « **Reply #41 on:** February 17, 2008, 11:31:38 AM »

Thing is, I see the same behavior among rural whites that have gotten caught in the great society trap. I have a distant relative whose main goal, and one he has succeeded at, is defrauding the disability program. He also likes to file frivolous lawsuits against past employers and any other entity he can.

I believe it's more the trap of the system than the race of those in the trap. In major cities those trapped tend to be minorities, with the alpha types turning to the gangland drug trade to move beyond the dole. In the poorest rural areas it can be any race with people happy enough with what they get from the handout to not want to do much about that. Not that they can after having blown off their chance to get a basic HS education and the most basic social skills and motivation required for employment.

Do the social programs work as a "hand up" for some? Sure -- just what percent? 10, 20?

The thing is, changing this is an enormous political and social challenge, and one politicians of any race or position have no real interest in undertaking. In fact, the solutions might strain the BOR.

For example. You enter a welfare program, and you sign a health waiver and have to take mandatory birth control (say, the under the skin kind) until you leave the program. The rationale -- if you can't support yourself how can you support a child and why should the responsible pay for your poor decision making skills?

Or, welfare becomes work fare. Not demeaning, just hard, 40 hour per week work cleaning up your neighborhoods or other public works projects. Perhaps 6 hours per day with another 2-4 of life skills education or GRE and even daycare for any children as long as you work in the program. Feel free to find a better job.

This type of solution, along with immediately removing disrupters and trouble makers from the public schools is the type of social program that would encourage positive change. Not likley to be popular among those who have already become used to the money for nothing system, and they vote. So...

Charon

midnight Target · « **Reply #42 on:** February 17, 2008, 11:45:31 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Gunthr
MT, I do share your sadness about Detroit. There were so many good restaurants on St. Antoine, in Greek Town, and good ribs by the bridge to Canada, and wonderful plays at the Fisher theater. But MT, the fate of this city is the direct result of the politics you hold so dear.

Bull.

The demise of Detroit is directly tied to the demise of the auto industry in America. Another culprit would be the idiotic trade unions the auto industry fostered. If you were Toyota and you needed to build a plant in America, all else being equal you would build it where you have a ready trained workforce. The UAW and the big 3 auto makers have created a situation that is untenable for profitability.

It can be done, look at Peoria and Caterpillar.

Masherbrum · « **Reply #43 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:38:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by midnight Target
Bull.

The demise of Detroit is directly tied to the demise of the auto industry in America. Another culprit would be the idiotic trade unions the auto industry fostered. If you were Toyota and you needed to build a plant in America, all else being equal you would build it where you have a ready trained workforce. The UAW and the big 3 auto makers have created a situation that is untenable for profitability.

It can be done, look at Peoria and Caterpillar.

Amen. My father worked for the UAW and Ford Motor Company for 33 years and has been retired since 1998. He never cared for the UAW, he never needed the UAW. He never missed a single day of work. He always thought it was hypocritical to pay dues for a "Brotherhood" he never liked, nor needed.

The UAW has turned into the "Lazy mans" helper. He saw many "Brothers" smoking crack, toking joints, snorting lines on the courtyard picnic tables. They never were fired and it pissed him off. He kept to himself and made a few friends who shared the same values.

The UAW is exactly why Detroit is struggling. When ignorant people vote in Detroit, they have even more ignorance deflected back upon then. Afterall, if ignorance is allowed in the first place, the ignorant will be more apt to encourage ignorance.

I go to Detroit for Tigers games and park for free. I will minimize my "donations" to that City.

Gunthr · « **Reply #44 on:** February 17, 2008, 01:43:53 PM »

Quote

The demise of Detroit is directly tied to the demise of the auto industry in America. - MT

Detroit has been a liberal bastion - led by non-stop liberal democrat politicians for decades - and Detroit tanked long before the auto industry did. The auto industy's inability to stay profitable didn't help, but it didn't cause it by itself.