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Conservatives Should Point and Laugh as Detroit Dies
Townhall.com ^ | July 23, 2013 | Kurt Schlichter

Posted on 07/23/2013 3:38:02 AM PDT by Kaslin

The agonizing death of Detroit is cause for celebration. It’s the first of the liberal-run big cities and states to fall, and we should welcome its collapse with glee.

Yeah, liberals, eventually you do run out of other people’s money.

The blue state model is a terminal disease, and Detroit is its poster child. Only this is one telethon where we should pledge that we won’t pay a single dime to keep the progressive party going a single minute longer.

Detroit represents the epitome of the blue state, Democrat machine liberalism that Barack Obama represents. Well, not one damn cent for Barry’s Kids.

Liberal media mouthpieces like the New York Times are all in a tizzy because the consequences conservatives have been warning America about for years are finally arriving. “We have to step in and save Detroit,” it cries.

We don’t have to do any such thing.

Steven Rattner, writing in the Times, says “But apart from voting in elections, the 700,000 remaining residents of the Motor City are no more responsible for Detroit’s problems than were the victims of Hurricane Sandy for theirs, and eventually Congress decided to help them.” And apart from the iceberg, the Titanic’s maiden voyage went swimmingly.

This is a problem created by the people of Detroit. It’s their problem to solve – without our money.

If you listen to the hand-wringers, you’ll never hear an honest examination of why Detroit is imploding. Nor do they offer any evidence that the half-wits who elected the quarter-wit Democrats governing them have learned anything at all from this trip to the precipice.

The most hilarious arguments are the ones where liberals whine about the middle class fleeing from the city, taking jobs and the tax base with them. Sure, regular folks took a look at the well-governed, stable, crime-free Utopia that was Detroit and thought, “Yeah, we need to get the hell out of here.”

Liberalism and the political, economic and social pathologies it spawned drove everyone out of Detroit who wasn’t feeding at the municipal trough, whether through some form of government job or some form of government handout.

This isn’t a chicken and the egg brainteaser. It’s simple cause and effect. Liberalism turned Detroit into a hideous dump that milked those who contribute to society to pay off the Democrat machine’s constituents who don’t. People didn’t feel like living in a pig sty while serving as piggy banks for corrupt Democrats. The productive decided that while the non-productive might win by voting at the ballot box, the productive would win by voting with their feet.

Yeah, Detroit had some hard knocks. The auto industry collapsed, which is not surprising since it was the blue state model in corporatist form. But every city takes hits. Dallas and Houston have been slammed again and again by the energy sector, and they keep coming back.

Not Detroit. It keeps milking the “GM went bye-bye” excuse, with its apologists never mentioning that GM didn’t just disappear. GM just went to places that didn’t suck.

What did Detroit do about it? Nothing. The auto industry started changing decades ago, but liberals act as if that change somehow excuses Detroit’s legacy of corruption and incompetence. Detroit’s most significant export in decades was Eminem. That’s reason enough to want to see a stake driven through its metaphorical heart.

But, of course it’s all the Republicans’ fault…for some reason. Rattner says, “If I thought it could pass Congress, I’d happily support a special appropriation, but the politics of any spending are toxic in Washington these days.” Yeah, it is toxic to suggest that those of us who didn’t vote in a succession of criminals to run our governments give our money to morons who did. And, in any sane universe, no one would ever suggest doing so.

But this is the Times, the voice of Big Liberalism. It opines that, “America is just as much about aiding those less fortunate as it is about personal responsibility.” Except, America isn’t about “aiding the less fortunate.” It’s about the “less fortunate” working to make themselves “more fortunate” – understanding that liberals think people become financially stable not through hard work but by dumb luck.

Not surprisingly, in a Times article referring to the miserable condition of a city run by a liberal Democrat machine for half a century, there is no mention of either liberalism or Democrats. That’s like writing about obesity and not mentioning food.

The liberal elite, which loves root causes, absolutely refuses to admit that the root cause of Detroit’s woes is liberalism itself. Liberals are like a drunk who wants the benefits of sobriety while continuing to hoist highballs. Step One is admitting that their ideology has a problem.

Fat chance. For liberalism, the answer is “5,” and it’s the “2 + 2” that’s somehow screwed up.

We conservatives should sit back and giggle as liberalism hits bottom. No, Detroit’s collapse won’t teach liberals anything. The big cities and the blue states will fail no matter what. Liberalism is the locust of political ideologies; it will eat everything in sight and then starve.

But Detroit may serve a useful purpose once again as a cautionary example for future generations, so for that reason as well we should welcome its passing. And as it dies, the last words ringing in its ears should be the voices of laughing conservatives saying, “We told you so.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: autoindustry; detroit; liberalsm; thenewyorkslimes
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To: TurboZamboni
Top Ten Most Dangerous Cities in America (Each Led by a Democrat)

Are there cities that are not infested with, and run by RATs?

61 posted on 07/23/2013 5:51:42 AM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (HEY RATS! Control your murdering freaks.)
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To: Kaslin

Laugh? no.

I pray they get the courage to act together and start tossing out the thugs (political and neighborhood).


62 posted on 07/23/2013 5:54:04 AM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
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To: Kaslin

While Stalin and Mao tortured and murdered millions, and destroyed their countries economies and academic institutions, they never entertained the slightest notion thet their philosophy was flawed-it was always an outside influence that caused the destruction. Failure works to the left’s advantage when it can shift the blame, no matter how silly and flawed its reasoning is. It’ll work here, too.


63 posted on 07/23/2013 5:55:57 AM PDT by Spok
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To: Thorliveshere
The only way to aid, assist and build up any thriving and sustainable settlement in the howling wasteland currently inhabited by Detroit is to let Detroit finally drop dead.

Its obligations must be dissolved in bankruptcy. Its bloated and parasitic pensions must also die in that bankruptcy

A new city can arise. But the old municipal structures and obligations must be cleared away first.

Being compassionate doesn't mean enabling dependency and sloth. A real conservative would know this.

64 posted on 07/23/2013 6:00:47 AM PDT by agere_contra (I once saw a movie where only the police and military had guns. It was called 'Schindler's List'.)
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To: Kaslin

You have to laugh at Detroit, or you’ll cry. How does the rest of the world look at this? Detroit used to be our nation’s wealthiest city, per capita. It used to be our fifth largest city. It was vibrant and alive and growing. Yes, the waterfront still looks nice, but that is a thin veneer covering the blocks and blocks of urban rot behind it. For fifty years, five decades, the rest of America has looked at Detroit and thought, “That way of governance is not sustainable. Surely, they will snap out of it and fix it themselves.” They didn’t. The citizens of Detroit slaughtered their golden goose, ate it, and then demanded that all other golden geese be given to them. Sorry. They need to eat crow now. They willfully and consistently elected thieves to run their city. It’s the old Democrat voter pipe dream, “Yeah, he’s a thief, but maybe he’ll steal for me.” OK. Live with the results of your voting behavior. Try going to your neighbors and demand that they pay for your groceries because you spent all of your money on a trip to Vegas. See what happens. Feel sorry for Detroit? Not in a million years. Encourage them to stop voting Democrat and pull themselves up by their bootstraps? You bet. They are Americans. They can do it. The Democrats have convinced them that they are too stupid to help themselves. Screw the Democrats.


65 posted on 07/23/2013 6:02:37 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: montanajoe
offer solutions for all Americans in all cities

Detroit's problems originated in Detroit. They may have been exacerbated by decisions made in Lansing and Washington, but they originated in Detroit. The solution to Detroit's problems will also originate in Detroit ... or not at all. Lansing and Washington cannot fix Detroit. Nor can California or Iowa or West Virginia. Only Detroit can fix Detroit.

You want solutions? Here's a solution, that works for all Americans (not just those in cities): FREEDOM. Constitutional, limited government. Very limited government. Respect for private property, private industry, private enterprise, and private labor. Stable rule of law, not capitulation to the demands of violent mobs.

It's so simple that a government bureaucrat can't understand it.

66 posted on 07/23/2013 6:06:09 AM PDT by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: montanajoe

OK, I’m not laughing.

However, sitting at your keyboard and proclaiming that Conservatives/Somebody is supposed to leap to the fray with “solutions to harness that potential” doesn’t really impress me any more than the recommended ROFLMAO.

You DO have some ideas on at least an approach to this????

(BTW, I’m an engineer by trade, with “experiences” on a much smaller scale of this sort of thing. I’d sure like to hear where we went wrong.)


67 posted on 07/23/2013 6:13:31 AM PDT by Unrepentant VN Vet (For why should my Freedom be judged by anothers conscience? 1 Cor 10:29)
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To: Kaslin
But Detroit may serve a useful purpose once again as a cautionary example for future generations, so for that reason as well we should welcome its passing. And as it dies, the last words ringing in its ears should be the voices of laughing conservatives saying, “We told you so.”

as it dies, the last words

68 posted on 07/23/2013 6:19:27 AM PDT by Donald Rumsfeld Fan (The)
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To: Kaslin

Obama’s shanty town.


69 posted on 07/23/2013 6:23:08 AM PDT by deadrock (I am someone else.)
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To: Therapsid

Ahh Windsor, spent some there back in the 80’s going to Cheetah’s with some Detroit guys who took me across.


70 posted on 07/23/2013 6:23:44 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Kaslin

The bad part is that Detroit is in fact past saving. Is there some reason that a city should exist there, other than inertia? If not, it shouldn’t exist there. It might be suitable for above ground nuclear weapons testing- except that it looks it already has been used for that. The simple fact is that Detroit is what the entire US would be if the Feds couldn’t print more money and sell junk bonds to cover up its insolvency. Laugh at it, some. But point to it as a warning of things to come.


71 posted on 07/23/2013 6:25:42 AM PDT by GenXteacher (You have chosen dishonor to avoid war; you shall have war also.)
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To: montanajoe

Actually spot on. The city needs to be purged of all ability to sustain any democrat control. As long as they have a way, albeit NObama, they will not change. It is like rehab they have to be clean before they can recover.


72 posted on 07/23/2013 6:26:10 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: Unrepentant VN Vet
We for starters Detroit has lots of land and in some cases usable building on the tax roles that could be given to business that would bring jobs. If a business is going to open incentive them..

Detroit actually has one of the better airports in the USA. Use it to attract international shippers.

Detroit/Michigan has a large under utilized manufacturing base start bringing jobs back to America not only in Detroit but everywhere..

Conservative principle's work and they will work in Detroit just like anywhere else, but laughing at and celebrating Detroit's problems makes no sense and frankly brands all Conservatives as the loons portrayed in the media..

73 posted on 07/23/2013 6:31:50 AM PDT by montanajoe
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To: Kaslin

74 posted on 07/23/2013 6:32:53 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Kaslin

I think we have many cities that are a good chunk of the way towards Detroit. I did a google man on the street map session with my kids showing them some of the areas I spent time in growing up in upstate NY. It looked pretty close to Detroit in many areas. My kids were pretty horrified. (:


75 posted on 07/23/2013 6:37:29 AM PDT by riri (Plannedopolis-look it up. It's how the elites plan for US to live.)
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To: Kaslin

Hard to laugh when there are going to be at least 75 other cities in the same bucket shortly, all clamoring for a bailout.

And if I were a betting man, I’d bet they get it.


76 posted on 07/23/2013 6:41:45 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: montanajoe

Forget that dream of yours for Michigan IS NOT A RIGHT TO WORK STATE. Unions killed the golden goose and they will kill any new business coming to town.

The communistic control of the workforce is Unions and no business in it’s right mind would open in that type of environment.

Your dream would only be possible in RIGHT TO WORK state like here in Texas.


77 posted on 07/23/2013 6:50:22 AM PDT by DH (Once the tainted finger of government touches anything the rot begins)
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To: montanajoe
Conservative principles include allowing people and organizations to fail.

Conservatism doesn't reinforce failure: it allows bankruptcies to take place so that the valuable assets being wasted and deprecated by the failed agency can be profitably used by someone else.

With this in mind - we must allow Detroit to go bankrupt. We cannot, repeat cannot save it while allowing its pensioners to live like Greeks. Conservative principles dictate: let Detroit die.

It is dangerous to approach a wounded animal. It is just as dangerous to put your business or your capital into the power of desperate Democrats. First: wait for the shrieking and flailing to stop.

78 posted on 07/23/2013 6:53:14 AM PDT by agere_contra (I once saw a movie where only the police and military had guns. It was called 'Schindler's List'.)
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To: Buckeye McFrog

The cities either get bailed out or the dominoes start to fall into a total nationwide, then worldwide economic collapse.

They’re not ready to let that happen yet.


79 posted on 07/23/2013 6:54:13 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: agere_contra
First: wait for the shrieking and flailing to stop.

Very much like the vampires that they are.

80 posted on 07/23/2013 6:54:58 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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