Things are so bad in Detroit that the implosion of city government is partly good. It reminds me of the collapse of communist government in eastern Europe – you know, when Reagan’s policies paid off and George H.W. Bush won the cold war, freeing millions from tyranny, in spite of the effete European ruling class and their liberal American allies. I digress, but someone needs to from time to time. Back to Detroit, 2009:
“In many cities where strong city government still functions effectively, citizens are tied down by an array of regulations and permits that are actually enforced in most cases. Much of the South Side of Chicago has Detroit-like characteristics, but the techniques of renewal in Detroit won’t work because they are likely against code and would be shut down the minute someone complained. Just as one quick example, my corner ice cream stand dared to put out a few chairs for patrons to sit on while enjoying a frozen treat on a hot day. The city cited them for not having a license. So they took them away and put up a “bring your own chair” sign. The city then cited them for that too. You can’t do anything in Chicago without a Byzantine array of licenses, permits, and inspections.” — Detroit: Urban Laboratory and the New American Frontier
In Detroit, that corner ice cream stand went under years ago, after the second fire. Mom and Pop’s grocery store is gone – Mom and Pop moved to Florida after the mugging. The exploitative big-business supermarkets are gone, because they were evil. People have to buy their food at convenience stores and gas stations. This is expensive, and people are unemployed, but they still need to eat. From the linked article:
“There is such a dire shortage of protein in the city that [some guy] is able to augment his Social Security by selling raccoon carcasses (twelve dollars a piece, serves a family of four) from animals he has treed and shot at undisclosed hunting grounds around the city. Pelts are ten dollars each. Pheasants are also abundant in the city and are occasionally harvested for dinner.”
Just shooting and eating animals must violate about a thousand city ordinances. And selling them has to be Unlicensed Commerce. That must violate federal law, maybe even a UN resolution. Next thing you know people will be keeping cows and chickens, selling butter and eggs. The government better to step in and stop this before someone makes a living.
- h/t
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