Thursday, December 31, 2009

The city of Detroit and the failed liberal experiment. Part 1

I came across a story last month printed by the U.K Times that I just had to shake my head while reading it. The Times reported that the city of Detroit is so financially impaired that the city can't even afford to bury abandoned corpses. I've said on many occasions that the ideology of liberalism has wrecked havoc on once prosperous major cities in America for a long time now. Many of those cities today are merely shells of their once great prominence. The four factors that are crucial to having a strong and vibrant city are

1. having a low crime rate
2. having a good and safe school system
3. having a low property tax rate
4. being business friendly

Most major cities across the country do not have any of these factors. The city of Detroit is the perfect example of how the grand experiment of liberalism has proven to be a complete epic failure. Detroit just like the cities of Baltimore, Washington DC, New Jersey City, Memphis, New Orleans, Chicago, Philadelphia, Flint, Richmond, South Central and Gary etc all share something in common. All of these cities I've mentioned are missing all the positive elements in which great cities are made of. These liberal run cities have

1. high crime rates
2. deplorable and dangerous public school systems
3. very high property tax rates
4. very unfriendly business environments


So is it really no wonder that most of American cities are in such a sad shape of despair? People in northern liberal cities are leaving those cities in record numbers. Steven Crowder conducted an in depth expose on the collapse and decay of the once mighty industrial city of Detroit. I know liberals are going to find fault with the video. Of course I expect that much. Even a so called conservative attacked Steven Crowder on his video. I still can't figure out the reason why that is. I'll go more into that in part two.

14 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Detroit looks like a dump and yet social programs were supposed to improve places like Detroit. Man I've seen litter strewn parks that look more upscale than Detroit.

4:01 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Richmond has all 4 of the criteria you mentioned and has since the liberals took over in the early 1980's. This once prosperous beautiful city is now a cesspool and ghetto-ridden hell-hole. I would never even enter the city limits, let-alone spend money there or even consider staying there for more than a few seconds at a traffic light. The sad part is the people and children who are stuck there.

4:45 PM  
Blogger Alpha Conservative Male said...

Baltimore is in the same boat, a sinking boat more like it. I always joke that Baltimore has more wood then Home Depot and Lowes combined due to the amount of boarded up houses. Once upon at time, the city of Baltimore enjoyed a population of almost a million people, today it has just over 634,000. The once vibrant downtown business district has become non existent. Here's an example of liberal logic in how liberals in local city government have drove out businesses to the suburbs. The city of Baltimore owns many of the parking garages in downtown. Many people commute into the city. The price to park in the garages are insane!!! So businesses have decided to move their operations into the suburbs where parking isn't an issue because of the open amount of space. So the city owned parking garages are killing off a revenue source and are also creating scores of vacant store fronts and offices suites because of. The proper action should have been to lower the cost of parking to a point where businesses that want to stay or locate into the city would have an INCENTIVE to do so. Of course this never crossed the minds of anti business liberal politicians.

6:22 PM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

CB;"I know liberals are going to find fault with the video. Of course I expect that much. Even a so called conservative attacked Steven Crowder on his video. I still can't figure out the reason why that is".

Find fault??? That's an understatement!!! It's more like OUTRIGHT LIES!!

Crowder shows a screen splash graphic that states the average UAW worker earn $130,000 in wages and benefits. THIS IS A LIE!

Here's the truth

He goes on to say; "while you and you family buckle down to plow through these hard economic times, UAW workers live like "kings" and makes virtually no compromises."

LIE! LIE! LIE!

In 2007 the UAW worked a deal to allow a "2 tier" wage page system in many UAW plants.

Detailed Here.

"A two-tier wage system would allow GM to save money on jobs not directly related to building an automobile, such as housekeeping, security and janitorial work. Those jobs could command wages as low as $12 to $15 an hour. The new wage structure would apply to new hires, not current workers".

Crowder also makes a play at the so-called "average working American" when he states; "UAW workers live like "kings". Such a statement is a clear attempt to breed animosity between those who are out of work, and those who are fortunate enough to still have employment.

Moreover, his condescension about the plight of the present UAW worker, contradicts his own observations of Detroit prior to the present troubles. Crowder notes that Detroit indeed once had one of the highest standards of living in the U.S. What he doesn't tell you is WHY!

UAW membership has fallen to 576,000 active members from a 1979 high of 1.5 million.

One million UAW jobs lost since 1979. That number does not include collateral losses such as suppliers, transports, dealers, and other industry related effects. I seen numbers as high a 1.8 million total manufacturing related jobs lost since 1979.

Crowder and Pajamas Media is an example of "conservative media" at it's best (or worse, depending on how you look at it).

I had not heard of the "Model Cities Program." So I did a Google search and came up with a Wiki Page describing the program. Lo' and behold, there's a mention of Democratic Congressman, Joe L Evins, who secured federal dollars under the program for Smithville, TN. Quoting the Wiki article, "Smithville is an example of a city that benefited from the Model Cities Project".
Anyone care to explain WHY???

8:59 AM  
Blogger Alpha Conservative Male said...

p allen "Find fault??? That's an understatement!!! It's more like OUTRIGHT LIES!!Crowder shows a screen splash graphic that states the average UAW worker earn $130,000 in wages and benefits. THIS IS A LIE!"

I was waiting for you to post allen. Actually the second video I'm going to post backs up everything Crowder said. You see, a so called conservative by the name of Debbie Schlussel has some sort of personal vendita against conservatives. She hates Steven Crowder and Fox News even though she claims to be aconservative, go figure. She's also a native resident of Detroit. So apparently Debbie is on your side allen.

p allen "Crowder shows a screen splash graphic that states the average UAW worker earn $130,000 in wages and benefits. THIS IS A LIE!"

a video blogger decided to fact check both Steven's claims and Debbie's rebuttal attacks against Steven for her claim that he was wrong. You decide allen in part 2. Debbie Schlussel is also a native Detroit resident as I mentioned before. In the video that I'm going to post, the person presented all the sources that Steven provided. So it wasn't like he was just pulling crap out of his rear allen. Once again, watch part two and then decide. Using stats from the UAW itself is laughable allen, come on!lol


p allen "Crowder also makes a play at the so-called "average working American" when he states; "UAW workers live like "kings". Such a statement is a clear attempt to breed animosity between those who are out of work, and those who are fortunate enough to still have employment."

Part two addresses it allen.

10:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is an interesting piece and video.

I live in Oakland County, just north of Detroit.
This area is the exact opposite of Detroit in terms of prosperity. I believe the county is the 4th wealthiest in its population segment and contains many cities in the top dozen "Safest Cities in America", cities like Troy and Farmington Hills. Interestingly enough the area is near 50/50 in Democrats and Republicans, but always seems to have a more conservative slant, or perhaps its just the area that I live.
But it is of note that the area in which I live is the most well balanced area in the county.

Don't get me wrong, there exists great opulence. With the main mall (Somerset Collection) containing high end stores such as Tiffany&Co, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Cartier, Brooks Brothers, etc. And until recently had been able to keep many of the lower end stores out. And if you want a car, just down the road is the Troy Motor Mall. Selling everything from Honda to Rolls Royce and Bugatti.

But on the other hand, much of the county is not so disconnected from the realities of life. Being a college student, I have found that I loathe many of these social welfare programs, or entitlement programs (a phrase I will start using) as the video calls them. And the reason I say this is because although my family is fortunate enough to be able to cover my college tuition, there are so many more expenses that they cannot cover and would not cover if capable. Housing costs, food costs, etc.
**long story ensues**
So when I decide it would be a nice treat to get a Slurpee from 7-11 to reward myself for finals, I have to dig around my car for enough change to cover this unnecessary and non-budgeted expenditure. Yet lo and behold when I walk in there, there is an overweight teen-aged girl and two of her friends complete with a pile of junk food sitting on the counter, the contents and sizes of which are undoubtedly the least healthy and least budget conscious. To top it all off, she is jabbering away on her cell phone to her mother and arguing with the clerk because her mom's Bridge Card keeps getting denied. All I can think during this time is how I had to dig those coins out of the grimy depths of my vehicle to finance this Slurpee while a supposedly underprivileged (meaning in enough financial need to warrant food stamps) girl is sitting here with the clerk arguing about her $30 pile of junk food she is trying to buy for her and her friends with state taxpayer dollars. Taxes that were undoubtedly taken out of any money myself or my financial supporters have earned. But it is just another day in the Detroit area.
**end long story**

Oakland County's proximity to Detroit makes it an interesting place. In one place, like Detroit, you can buy a plot and remnants of a house for 5 thousand dollars and 5 miles away, in Oakland County, you can buy land and a house for 5 million dollars. Yet the crime and learned helplessness seems to stay confined to areas defined by county lines. The same lines that define the type, scope, and magnitude of entitlement programs.

to p allen - the content of your comment I will ignore until you have the opportunity to see the remaining parts in this series.
BUT i will make one note....

"One million UAW ... I seen numbers ..."

When you use language like this, it make you seem highly uneducated. The proper usage would be "I saw numbers..." or "I had seen numbers...". I am not saying everyone is perfect, including myself. I am sure you can find numerous errors riddled throughout my comment, it is just that this grammatical error of yours is a gross ignorance of the rules of English.

12:58 PM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

CB;"Actually the second video I'm going to post backs up everything Crowder said".

The only way you can back up a "lie", is with another LIE!!!

CB;"Once again, watch part two and then decide. Using stats from the UAW itself is laughable allen, come on!lol".

Did you follow the link to the UAW website? Are you and Crowder saying that the UAW is "LYING" about what it workers earn??? How much sense would that make?? You can

How stupid can you be Tyrone. I live in Detroit. I have brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, neighbors, friends and countless other acquaintances who work in auto factories. NOT A ONE OF THEM CAN SAY OR EVEN THINK THAT THEY ARE PAID $130,000 A YEAR IN WAGES AND BENEFITS!! Crowder said $130,000, that's the figure he splashed on the screen!!!!!!!!

Even if auto workers were paid that type of money (which they are not), what happened conservative mantra of working hard and self sufficiency? What happened to the conservative idea that a worker be paid whatever the market will bear?? Now Conservatives want to attack the 9 to 5 hard working American...and for what?? Wages!! What's worse is that, on your part it's for wages they don't even make!!!

CB;"You see, a so called conservative by the name of Debbie Schlussel has some sort of personal vendita against conservatives".

Conservatives have vendetta against Schluessel for a few reasons. For one, she is too vocal and brash in her Islamophobia (which conservative want to keep behind closed doors). Secondly she has a beef with conservative darling, Sean Hannity.

I watched the video again and I looked at it even more closely. At the beginning what was his reason for showing a Mosque? The Arab community is thriving in the Metro-Detroit area.

Secondly, as the video ends, an audio track of a ominous Gregorian piece pans in as a party store mural is shown with a depiction of President Obama and the "2008 Time for a Change" slogan. Above the mural is a advertisement that reads; "SUPER WATERMELON SALE, SEEDED SEEDLESS AND MORE." At the same time the afore mentioned image appears on the screen, a voice over asks; "So I ask you...Is this the America you want?".

Any amateur videographer would know and understand the subliminal power of an image accompanied by a particular audio track and voice over.

And NO! I don't believe it was a "coincidence" or "artistic license" that the producers, editors and directors of the video chose to focus on a picture of President Obama under a watermelon advertisement. The closing segment of that video was meant to make a statement WHICH IS VERY CLEAR TO ME!

1:39 PM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

Anonymous;"When you use language like this, it make you seem highly uneducated. The proper usage would be "I saw numbers..." or "I had seen numbers...". I am not saying everyone is perfect, including myself".

Whell!, excuuuuuuuuussse me!

I tend to write like I speak. However, that's actually a typo. I meant to write;

"I'VE" SEEN NUMBERS AS HIGH AS....

Meaning, "I have seen", or, a distinctive impression of that which is expressive of elapsed time.

Anon;"it is just that this grammatical error of yours is a gross ignorance of the rules of English".

Really? Gross ignorance? Do you really think I'm "ignorant" of the rules of English? I like people who say what the think! Tell me more!!

10:37 PM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

Anon;"I have found that I loathe many of these social welfare programs, or entitlement programs (a phrase I will start using) as the video calls them".

The intent of "social programs" are to help those who are unable to help themselves. Organizations such as The Red Cross, Christian Charities, Food Banks, etc.., all have "programs" that assist people who cannot do for themselves.

Mind you, there are "people" who take advantage of these "programs" who I would call "undeserving." Yet I would hesitate to say that I "loathe" the program.

I believe what you're actually saying is that you "loathe the people" that you view as taking undue advantage of these programs. You loathe the "fat girl buying junk food with a 'government' issued bridge card." What's worse is that she had a "cell phone" which you believe she could not, or should not be able to afford.

So now, you look at her as the "result of leftest policies." "Libruls" created this fat, loud mouth, government dependent poor excuse for a human being....right?
The only thing that could have saved he from her plight is if....SHE WERE JUST LIKE YOU....right?

1:06 AM  
Anonymous Mjdzfun said...

@ p allen~

"...You loathe the "fat girl buying junk food with a 'government' issued bridge card." What's worse is that she had a "cell phone" which you believe she could not, or should not be able to afford.

So now, you look at her as the "result of leftest policies." "Libruls" created this fat, loud mouth, government dependent poor excuse for a human being....right? ..."

Well, Duh!

"...The only thing that could have saved he from her plight is if....SHE WERE JUST LIKE YOU....right? ..."

You mean, hard working, getting an education, self reliant...again...well, duh. You said it!

12:54 AM  
Blogger p. anthony allen said...

Mjdzfun;"You mean, hard working, getting an education, self reliant...again...well, duh. You said it!".

Absolutely! Hard work, education and self reliance are all a part of it. So is "pulling yourself up by the bootstraps" or, "picking yourself up is you fall."

Yet, it doesn't mean that just because a person might have liberal political views, that he or she doesn't work hard. Conversely, simply because you're politically conservative doesn't mean that you do work hard. But that's not the gist of my comment to Anonymous.... I'll get to that in a moment.

Did you watch both the videos Tyrone posted? Conservative author, Steve Crowder, clearly placed the blame for the failure of American auto companies on the WORKERS!!!

Crowder said nothing about the corporate types who fly around the world in private jets, vacation in Bermuda 3 to 5 times a year, have homes in 3 states, leave the company with severance pay, bonus packages and golden parachutes. And, even though the company went through bankruptcy, still to this day enjoy those perks!

I live in Detroit. I see the devastation first hand.

I know people who have lost their jobs in the auto plants. I know people who have worked "hard" for 10, 20, 30 years and have lost nearly, if not everything they've worked for.

In response to your initial question, I was implying that Anonymous broad brushed the "fat girl" as a government dependent lazy "librul." Anonymous "assumed" who and what this person was. Anonymous did not say she knew the girl personally, so Anonymous assumed the "fat girl" was nothing like him or herself, therefore I asked; "The only thing that could have saved he from her plight is if....SHE WERE JUST LIKE YOU." (ie. family is fortunate enough to be able to cover college tuition, digging change from the car seats, and whatever else makes up his/her lifestyle)

Mind you, I don't agree with Crowders assertion that "leftest librul policies" caused the devastation in Detroit. The most "librul" city in the U.S. is San Francisco, CA. "Libruls" and Democrats have run San Fran since the early 1960's also. Why haven't "librul leftest policies" devastated San Fran?????

7:21 AM  
Blogger gorin002 said...

compact chevys are dawoos
or daywoo.not real chevys
pontaic is gone or wil be soon
and obama reovery does t repair this.its very depressing to see this.if this was a poor country
forgein country i bet be village
restored.
if you have wrong leaders if you have if you ask evry one can i help you if you don t help your self you destroying your self

3:26 PM  
Blogger Lauren C. said...

Liberals have destroyed San Fran. They're jussi not at the point of despair that is Detroit yet. But San Fran is broke, just like CA is broke. Learn your facts

2:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Detroit is no doubt in a mess. Years have put them in trouble and it will take years to pull them out. but it will also take people who know how to pull them out. I heard the bale out helped Detroit NOW that was a lie. People wake up and smell the mess. Our government is sinking us one city at a time. It is up to us to help ourselves. It starts by not believing every lie that comes out of their mouth. The government has got so many dependent on them that those who work cannot pull the weight for you and all the money miss spent. They need to create jobs and think of the American People and their dignity. We Americans are very smart people and have always been the example of good. Let's not let the government take that from us. We and I include all nationalities and color are one and we need to stand together. Decades ago we let those ignorant individuals divide up as a country by segregating blacks and whites. For the most part we have moved past that and the little left we can fight as well. The current administration is trying to take us back to that bad place. Everyone band together and become the brothers and sisters we are and support each other and beat this crazy government. They want to rule us and have us depend on them and become like the third world countries. Once that far it is over and we have no way but to be under the control of those in office. They did not create me and will not own me. I stand up for my Country and the great people in it. Detroit is lost because of the politicians throwing their weight around including the stinking unions. The Unions want every dollar for their selves no matter how much the community suffers. We have time to pull out but must act now. People wake up and start repairing the damage now. We still have time. If we stand as one we can own our country again. TAKE IT BACK AMERICA.

5:55 PM  

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