Detroit: The Triumph of Progressive Public Policy

Capitol Confidential ^ | 10/15/2011 | Jarrett Skorup

[MichCapCon]

Imagine a city where all the major economic planks of the statist or "progressive" platform have been enacted:

A "living wage" ordinance, far above the federal minimum wage, for all public employees and private contractors. A school system that spends significantly more per pupil than the national average. A powerful school employee union that militantly defends the exceptional pay, benefits and job security it has won for its members. A powerful government employee union that does the same for its members. A tax system that aggressively redistributes income from businesses and the wealthy to the poor and to government bureaucracies.

Would this be a shining city on a hill, exciting the admiration of all? We don't have to guess, because there is such a city right here in our state: Detroit

Detroit has been dubbed "the most liberal city in America" and each of these "progressive" policies is alive and well there. How have they worked out?

In 1950, Detroit was the wealthiest city in America on a per capita income basis. Today, the Census Bureau reports that it is the nation's 2nd poorest major city, just "edging out" Cleveland.

Could it be pure coincidence that the decline occurred over the same period in which union power, the city government bureaucracy, taxes and business regulations all multiplied? ...

[goat granny]

People started to move out when forced busing came in...Both middle class blacks and whites left.

Who wanted to put their 1st grade kid on a bus to be taken to a school an hour away, (via crowded traffic) to be with kids they didn't know..I was brought up in Detroit when it was a beautiful city, the 4th largest in population in the country..Married in 59 and move to the suburbs. It was too expensive to buy a home in the city...new subs north were a lot cheaper to buy...

In 1959 a new home, 1000 sq ft. was $13,000 dollars. Our second home was a 1800 sq ft colonial (we had 5 kids by then) and it cost $19,500.dollars....Now a days it looks like those prices are coming back, thank you Mr. President...NOT

[Last Dakotan]

[ronnie raygun]

At the hieght of prosperity Detroit was looked on as the apple pie in grandmas window that you couldnot have. Once they sunk thier teeth into Detroit the prorgessive cancer spread until the patient went terminal and ultimatley died a gruesome death. labeled a cause of republican policies and repeated by the state media and believed by the uneducated and the educated uneducated it is time to move on to the next host.

[Steely Tom]

In 1950, Detroit was the wealthiest city in America on a per capita income basis. Today, the Census Bureau reports that it is the nation's 2nd poorest major city, just "edging out" Cleveland.

You mean to tell me that East St. Louis is richer than Detroit and Cleveland?

[gonzo]

“....I was brought up in Detroit when it was a beautiful city...”

As was I. Detroit was my playground. They could graze cattle there now ................................. FRegards