Will Liberal Cities Leave the Rest of America Behind?

The New York Times ^ | April30,2014 | Thomas B. Edsall

[cuban leaf]

Now they are complaining that people don’t live in cities?

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Since moving to central KY from Seattle, I’ve noticed a stark differenct between the two places I never expected.

Because the cost of living is so ridiculously low here and the property taxes as well, one can actually live on their own property in a cabin or single wide for very low dollars per month. It means there are people here living off selling stuff on eBay, firewood, and other small streams of income, none of which would really make a dent in your expenses in Seattle.

And some of these people are among the happiest people I’ve ever met. It really is “giving up a high standard of living for a high quality of life”.

[Timocrat]

These outspoken mayors have generated a growing optimism on the Democratic left that local officials can restore support for government activism. Mayors and city councils, in this view, can lead the drive to improve the prospects and living conditions of those in the bottom third of the income distribution.

Yes the "War on Poverty" was such an outstanding success we should have another one. Do these people ever look at the data ?

[The_Reader_David]

It depends on which direction one looking. Liberal cities have been leaving the rest of America behind for decades . . . in the race to the bottom. And largely because of policies of exactly the sort this economically-clueless columnist is touting.

[MrB]

In his worldview, any outcomes result from decisions made by elites with power.

[Izzy Dunne]

Does that mean that clowns like this won't try?

I'm not optimistic...

[cuban leaf]

A lot of local businesses in Washington state were really, REALLY ticked at the tax deal the state gave Boeing to stick around.

[tomkat]

Does anyone - ANYONE - still believe we can ever peacefully coexist with the type of metastasizing anti-Constitutional statism represented by the author of this Progunist wet dream ? !

[Night Hides Not]

While you’re at it, BUILD WALLS around your cities to make sure we can’t hitch a ride!

Texas needs to build walls to keep the libs out.

[MrB]

In the county where I live, they’ve tried to be “tax friendly” to certain businesses to move in or stay,
but then kept their insane level of spending,
so they’re soaking property owners to make up for it.

[sport]

We can hope, but in reality, no. They need their slave labor to keep them in the lifestyle they demand. A better question would be , Would we[ the producers] leave the Liberal cities behind? Down the road, our survival will depend on how that question is answered.

[MamaTexan]

Does that mean that clowns like this won't try?

Well of course they will...clowns will be clowns.

But they're really not particularly bright clowns, either.

(:-p)

[smokingfrog]

[The_Reader_David]

Do these people ever look at the data ?

Of course not. Rational analysis of data is a whitemale heteronormal hegemonist construct created to oppress women, people of color and sexual minorities. \academic-left-speak

[E. Pluribus Unum]

No.

[dowcaet]

New York City. Comrade De Blasio. Redistribution of wealth. Edsall is a typical lefty idiot who thinks he’s smarter than the rest of the room.

[PapaBear3625]

How can governments adopt substantial, effective policies in order to benefit the poor and the working class when corporations, the affluent and owners of capital can pull up stakes and relocate with ease?

The NY Times admits that the Leftist agenda cannot work without a captive source of seizable wealth to "redistribute".

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Ah. they've heard of the Third Way. Work with and encourage the "useful idiots" (Lenin's description) to build prosperity then take it away from them.

. . . it takes money and resources to become a liberal city. “You can’t be a progressive without prosperity,” Bruce Katz, director of the Brookings Institution’s metropolitan policy program, said in a phone interview.

At what point do redistributive initiatives drive out affluent taxpayers? How many corner stores and other borderline businesses reach a breaking point when forced by new regulations to not only raise wages but to grant employee sick leave and other city-mandated benefits?

Good question.

[sten]

i don’t give a fig what the libtard cities are doing... i just have a serious problem with them taking federal money... which comes from the rest of us

[expat2]

If so, the cities equipped to finance major [liberal] enhancements will leave their less well-off counterparts sinking ever deeper in the hole.

Liberal wet dream. More likely, the liberal cities will follow Detroit and Chicago into the latrine hole.

[tomkat]

Progunists   Commuprogs

<better?>