Our New Landscape

 

 

What is they gave a recovery and nobody came?

Yesterday we made our monthly journey to a half price book store. Our trip usually includes a stop at Good Will  to drop of some donations. The drive takes us down "main street" in the city we lived in 30 years ago. It is amazing to both of us what in the world happened to that once fine city. Forty years ago, when we first moved there, it was "the place to live" in the northern suburbs. Today, "main street" is filled with vacant spaces as well as many abandoned shops and businesses.

Not too many years ago, this town was looked upon a the model "bedroom community". It reminded me of the town in the movie Pleasantville.  Although it did not have many places to work, it was a great place to live and raise a family. When we first moved there, I could not believe the number of tennis courts that were available to the residents - there were dozens upon dozens. There were walking paths, family restaurants, churches, you name it. A great place to live and recreate.

Today, the city looks like many first ring suburbs around the Twin Cities. The strip malls, which at one time were filled with fun and different shops, are now filled with pawn shops, consignment shops, dollar stores or donation spots. There are very few family restaurants, and the ones which remain are standing room only on most days. What has happened? Why is this once fine bedroom community now look like the first stages of urban decay?

It makes me think of what has happened to the Motor City. Fifty years ago, this was the place to live and work if you wanted to be part of America's great industry - cars. Now it has filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history. It was the highest murder rate for any large city, and the police response time is almost an hour. Tens of thousands of buildings are abandoned and the city is hollow, and getting more hollow every year.

As an American, I am embarrassed to see what has happened to our country. We have given up - we are just laying down waiting for the other shoe to drop. What has happened to our imagination? Why do we tolerate this? We are better than this. Decades ago, we would take Russians to visit Detroit as it was our example of how capitalism works. Now, it is an example of how run away, out of control government works. Too many promises with too little resources to back them up. Sooner or later, the piper must be paid.

The next time you are out for a drive, look at our new landscape. Is this what we are about? Is this the landscape we wanted to leave for our kids? If this is our "recovery", you can keep it. As for me, I am still looking for that time machine that will take me back forty years ago. A machine that will take me to a town that looks more like Pleasantville than Detroit. That is the landscape I would once again like to see.