Osler's Razor

I visited Detroit for the first time this Easter. It was one of the most fascinating places I've ever seen, a place of such incredible contrasts, a mix of utter decay and shine of old glory. Trying to understand the phenomenon this former grand city is, posed more than a challenge. I figured though it's not about the now proverbial phrase everyone feels compelled to state when talking about Detroit: “plenty of blame to go around” it is all about laissez-faire...”let it be” the most fitting word to describe this french sounding American city. There is a status quo that keeps everyone stuck in their tracks. Take the people in this reportage...take Darryll Latimer who talks about shutting down water for delinquent customers when hundreds upon hundreds of houses have the water free flowing and flooding abandoned basements. One would wonder why not put a plug on that, Mr. Darryll Latimer? Take Sonia Brown who volunteers her house for free water storage and tells a few hard, painful truths about how there is no question if she were to choose when it came to paying the water bill or feeding her kids, yet in the background someone sitting on the porch, smart phone in hand, records Sonia Browns' plight. Last I checked smart phone bills were not free. To me it looks like everyone seems to be complacent in their ways, from the “this is how things are done” management to the “we are the victims here, people” people. And one last note, since this is getting too long...is it me or is the Water Brigade the most idiotic thing ever! instead of doing something to have the taps turned back on, they provide bottled water to take a bath?? And then what??...have the neighborhood drown in empty plastic bottles (I'm pretty sure the recycling truck will not come to collect empty plastics).
 

Forgot Professor Smart Pants from Wayne State, the likes of whom write half-baked grants that bring about half-ass perpetuating dysfunction Water Brigade types...band aid to a three thousand stitches worth gash.
 

If you lose a house to foreclosure that you rented out because it was vandalized and the pipes broken, it is the owners fault! They were not being responsible landlords and checking the property regularly. Their negligence is not grounds for sympathy or for taxpayers to foot the bill for their failure to be responsible.

Like any other bill, if you don't pay, there are consequences. We seem to be losing sight of personal responsibility in so many areas - like having children you can't afford to care for.

Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay for the poor choices people make in their lives.

Lee
 

I figured though it's not about the now proverbial phrase everyone feels compelled to state when talking about Detroit: “plenty of blame to go around” it is all about laissez-faire...”let it be” the most fitting word to describe this French sounding American city.

Marta this statement speaks volumes. Having grown up in the Detroit Metro area (and left) and having family still there it is difficult to be critical. Each time I return, I see the advances in some areas but feel that most lifetime residents (my family included) are stuck in a time warp.

And Lee - I agree with you. The negligence of the landlord should not be the taxpayers responsibility.