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Economics

Reason Writers Around Town: Shikha Dalmia on Detroit's Downward Spiral

Reason Staff | 11.11.2009 12:45 PM

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Writing in The Wall Street Journal, Reason Foundation Senior Analyst Shikha Dalmia looks at whether Detroit Mayor Dave Bing can save the Motor City from economic collapse.

Read all about it here.

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Reason Staff
Economics
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  1. BakedPenguin   17 years ago

    In a sick sort of way, it's fascinating to see a city circle the drain like that, like a modern Ozymandius. Sorry to Shikha and J sub D and anyone else who lives there.

    The union official is unbelievable. A lot of parasites evolve so that they don't kill off the host. American unions apparently aren't as intelligent as tapeworms.

  2. EJM   17 years ago

    It occurred to me that we may not have had a discussion of the relative merits of Detroit-style pizza (vs. those of Chicago, New York, St. Louis, et al.). 😉

    1. Skid Marx   17 years ago

      Can't be as bad as that Chicago crap.

      FTR, the red-stuffed pizza from Hi-Way Pizza in State College, PA is damn tasty!

      1. Pro Libertate   17 years ago

        Losers.

    2. Episiarch   17 years ago

      Deep dish = sucktastic

      No more need be said.

      1. Cabeza de Vaca   17 years ago

        I totally agree, thin crust is awesome.

      2. Bob Smith   17 years ago

        What? Heresy! I'm calling the Pizza Inquisition.

      3. Bob Smith   17 years ago

        What? Heresy! I'm calling the Pizza Inquisition.

    3. Detroit Linguist   17 years ago

      I am running a 'movie night' here in downtown Detroit for our linguistics students, and I've ordered some genuine Detroit pizza (from Pizza Papalis) to be delivered. Will report.

  3. New Yawker   17 years ago

    It ain't a pie unless it's think enough to see through. Or would be, 'cept for the grease.

  4. Nick   17 years ago

    It's been my experience eating NY pizza (the style I prefer) that some places suck and some are great. To date, I haven't had a Chicago style slice worth a damn.

  5. Mike   17 years ago

    From the article:

    "Only 25% of high school students graduate each year."

    Is that 25% of high school seniors? Otherwise, for a 4-year high school, 25% isn't bad.

    1. sage   17 years ago

      Maybe, unless the 9th - 11th grade consists of 5% of the student body.

  6. J sub D   17 years ago

    The only thing certain is that fate is not kind to a city that allows unions to run amok.

    QFMFT. Bankrupcy may indeed be the only way out. I'd try auctioning off assets first (what do you think Belle Isle [982 acres] would go for?) but that may not be politically possible.

    1. Brian Courts   17 years ago

      Maybe Ontario would buy it? Hell, could we just sell the entire city of Detroit to Canada? It may just be the only way Canada ever wins another Stanley Cup, after all.

  7. J sub D   17 years ago

    Is that 25% of high school seniors? Otherwise, for a 4-year high school, 25% isn't bad.

    Depending on which estimate you use (DPS doesn't keep trustworthy stats) 25-48% of children who enter the ninth grade in Detroit public schools graduate from a high school somewhere within 5 years. DPS can't tell you if a student transferred out of the district or just stopped attending. That would invole recordkeeping.

  8. Naga Sadow   17 years ago

    Oh man! That's bad. That's Mississippi bad. We hover around a 40% drop out rate at any given time.

  9. Nick   17 years ago

    So, what we've learned is that Detroit was doomed from the start because it has no famous food item to call it's own. Even Idaho has potatoes.

  10. DX   17 years ago

    Good riddance, Detroit. I look forward to someday taking a tour of the country's largest ghost town.

  11. Detroit Linguist   17 years ago

    The strange thing about what's going on in Detroit is that tons of new, interesting restaurants have opened in the central Detroit area in the past year and a half, and they seem to be doing well. Be glad to host a Reason Blog readers gathering at one of them (can't offer the delights of DC, mind you...)
    I live here (well, in a close-in suburb) and I fear Shikha is right, but I like the place nonetheless.

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