R.I.P. Detroit

Dispassionate reporting from Michigan newspapers in reviewing the BBC special, "Requiem for Detroit"

- "the folks in the United Kingdom have a strange obsession with the decline of Detroit"
- "As a side note, today's Guardian also rubs a little more salt in Detroit's wounds"

The video clips are worth watching. Much better to read is the Guardian review.

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For still images see Yves Marchand's collection "The Ruins of Detroit".

The splendid buildings, abandoned by a citizenry that has no knowledge of how to care for or maintain or a desire to do so, has the feel of the 1960's classic "Logan's Run" or "Blade Runner, sci fi movies that followed the collapse of civilization.

Buildings, derelict and as deserted as the East German factories the photographer showcases in "Eastern Industries," there is a parallel in the abandoned East German industrial base buildings and deserted Detroit. Both followed a similar path of economic collapse from socialism. Detroit is the uber Liberal city, run into oblivion by Liberals for 50 years, citizens desperate to escape. And they did. In droves. Detroit lost a 1 million people who fled the corruption and endless political battles. Abandoned by people, industry, money, and hope, it's a workers' paradise. Unless, of course, they actually want to work. -- People couldn't wait to get away.

There's an object lesson there. Other posts on Detroit. here and here

UPDATE March 17 - Detroit will, like Kanasas City, be closing a significant number of schools. Emergency Financial Manager Robert Bobb announced a plan to close 44 out of 172 schools. Bobb expects that over the next four to five years, s the Detroit School District will see an enrollment drop of 30,000 students.

NOTE: The 2010 Census is expected to show the population down from the current 900,000 - barring ACORN workers faking a lot of families who aren't there.

Bumped