Tough Love For Blue Cities?

American Thinker ^ | 20 Sep, 2026 | Frank Ryan

[MtnClimber]

What should become of New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle when their socialist experiments blow up?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s calling out a property owner in New York City, Attorney General James of New York attacking President Trump in a decision that was overturned in 2025, Elon Musk’s Delaware pay package ruling subsequently overruled by shareholders — all have something in common: Attack capital, and do not be shocked by the flight of capital from your communities or states.

New York City, Seattle, and Los Angeles are just a few of the cities experimenting with the Democratic Socialists of America agenda, a modified form of communism. The consequences of their actions have not yet begun to be felt, but the outcomes will be catastrophic.

These trends will lead our nation to a decision point: bailout or no bailout. The decision will have to be made, and the timing will be the next major recession.

In the past, our nation has taken a “bailout” approach almost always, preventing the needed lessons from being learned. Instead, others have been called upon to pay the price. No lessons learned, and the behavior gets replicated, as we as see playing out today.

Years ago, while serving in the Marine Corps, I spent considerable time in Haiti. It taught me an economic lesson I have never forgotten. Following the 1991 military coup, the United States and international community imposed economic sanctions on Haiti. Those actions may have been justified, but justified decisions still have consequences.

I watched businesses leave. The economic statistics eventually documented the devastation. Between 1991 and 1994, Haiti’s real GDP declined by roughly 30 percent. Investment collapsed from approximately 11 percent of GDP to about 2 percent. Export-oriented assembly industries, which had been enormously important to the country’s exports, virtually ceased operating.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: leftism

[MtnClimber]

No bailouts. Stupidity should be painful.

[Leaning Right]

Will there eventually be another Democrat president? For sure.

Then for sure these D cities will eventually get a federal bailout.

It might even happen if there’s a Republican president, as part of a deal with a Democrat Congress.

🙁

[Carry_Okie]

In the past, our nation has taken a “bailout” approach almost always, preventing the needed lessons from being learned.

Detroit didn't learn it. It's looking like San Francisco may have by degree. So from what I can tell, it'll be "we'll see." I don't see much hope for LA if the entertainment industry leaves en masse.

[ClearCase_guy]

There are cities all across the country that have long since passed their prime. Syracuse, Indianapolis, Detroit, etc. Economic trends shifted, the cities declined. The cities are smaller, poorer, less important.

Seattle, New York, Los Angeles can follow in those footsteps. Port facilities may have lasting value, and the shell of a great city may remain so that the ports can still be used — but most of the people ought to go someplace that isn’t insane. There is nothing for normal people in these blue cities.

[brownsfan]

“No bailouts. Stupidity should be painful.”

Do not underestimate the stupidity of the American public. A socialist president in ‘28 will bail out all the blue socialist cities until the entire country is broke. Something like Venezuela.

[Bernard]

Hey, you left out Chicago!

The dem super-majority in state government is constantly trying to find new tax sources to fund the teacher union utopia, and is running short all the time.

And Pritzker still has fantasies of being President. God help America if that happens.

[Worldtraveler once upon a time]

From the article, "Attack capital, and do not be shocked by the flight of capital from your communities or states. "

Your comment: "No bailouts. Stupidity should be painful."

Your comment is spot on, and at its source, the simple principle is liberty. Capital -- like donations in the offering plate in church -- is a matter of who "will" and who "will not."

[Tench_Coxe]

"What should become of New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle when their socialist experiments blow up?"

Let them die, and make sure those responsable for that death aren't able to pretend they didn't have a hand it.

[allendale]

Exactly right. That inevitable scenario is why the rot keeps getting worse.

[sauropod]

Bkmk