Mike: I agree with the sentiment of your friend about Detroit. It’s what pragmatism does to a city that adopts government enforced altruism over protecting individual rights.
You’re right of course that Detroit could be a seething hot bed of productive activity, if the government would just get itself out of the way. But it won’t. Detroit’s new mayor Dave Bing, himself a businessman, thinks it’s up to the city to provide the environment in which businesses can operate to create prosperity. It’s the right idea if by environment he means one with no government interference in the marketplace. But in a Detroit Free Press interview Nov 29th Mr. Bing said rebuilding Detroit would take about 20 years. Obviously he thinks it’s the city’s job to do the rebuilding and in the current tax and regulatory framework. We’ll see.

I’ve been interested in Detroit ever since I started reading a blog written by a detroiter (is that the right term?) who covered the city’s high and low points and its political realities with unflinching realism and humor. He’s a kind of urban explorer (who nonetheless never vandalizes or steals, merely photographs) with a keen interest in history and architecture. He has, in the past, quite skillfully skewered the corrupt city officials and their exploits, which would make Charlie Rangel blush.

He largely highlights the positive aspects of the city now, which, interestingly, seem to be small business people trying to make it in the face of terrible obstacles.

I won’t post the link to the blog because that’s tricky in comments, but I will say that if you google the words “Detroit” and “blog,” you will find his blog at the top of the list.

That first edition you bought might be a collector’s item someday.