Via John Stossel:
- The city of Cleveland operates a public grocery store called the West Side Market. It boasts organic foods, unique specialty items, and personal service (the DMV boasts that too, you have to deal personally with them). It looks quite nice from the pictures. But typical of government it is only open for 4 days a week, and less than 12 hours each of those days. And given that it doesn’t have to keep the lights on very long, and it is such a totally cool and awesome and ethical place to shop, it should be obvious that the city manages to … lose … money on the market.
- And because the czars in central cities think they know anything about economic redevelopment, any grand idea they think up must certainly revitalize the city. My old hometown of Pittsfield, Massachusetts spent $10 million on an old fashioned movie theater. Let’s see how much that sparked resurgence. In Cleveland, the city is spending taxpayer money on a medical convention center that will turn Cleveland into a “Disney World” for doctors! Remember this?
You just missed Rochester’s Fast Ferry debacle by maybe 2 years. You would have LOVED that! 🙂
Yeh, Speedmaster. Was it via the Niagra River, over the falls, then on to Labrador?
Count on Cleveland to make a mess. But then, count on Philadelphia to imitate Cleveland.
You may or may not be right about the specific efforts at rehabilitating any given municipality, but surely you are not suggesting that no effort of any kind is worth it. What would you propose–abandoning the cities based on some laissez faire philosophy or do you have specific proposals for Pittsfield, Cleveland or any other city?
I would like to hear your take on that. Thanks.
Alex, you’d do well to reflect on the quote at the top:
The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design. – F.A. Hayek
If you would look where cities are abandoned, you would see results of planning. Especially in Cleveland and Detroit (and the list could go on).
Alex, your point is taken.
In general, Cleveland, and Philadelphia and my own little municipality, have too many people on the payroll.
You said a mouthful when you inferred that laissez-faire economics implies abandoning Cleveland and Detroit.
I hope you will continue studying this blog, which, if you are diligent, will help answer the many questions you raise.
Best wishes!
467311 13369Simply wanna remark that you have a very good web website , I enjoy the layout it in fact stands out. 599950
282622 856871Great post. I previousally to spend alot of my time water skiing and watching sports. It was quite possible the best sequence of my past and your content kind of reminded me of that period of my life. Cheers 306056
732009 244305I believe this site has some really wonderful data for everyone : D. 514827
102254 465913This douche bag loves his illegal bretheren because hes a itiaen with the world and we should be ashamed of ourselves I got news for you Asswipe get your asswiping ass back towards the craphole where you came from with all of your illegal beaners 93277
297919 754416numerous thanks for telling!. Truth is generally the top vindication against slander. by Abraham Lincoln.. 412458
356327 294060You completed various excellent points there. I did a search on the theme and located the majority of folks will consent together with your weblog. 821959
913466 234599Hey, you?re the goto expert. Thanks for haingng out here. 879111
388870 429022I always was concerned in this subject and stock nonetheless am, regards for posting . 361385
824512 940012Some genuinely good stuff on this internet website , I it. 459514