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For at least as long as my life, i.e. the 80s, it has been a unspoken but *very real* policy from the governments of the United States to simultaneously condemn+force small towns to die & be swallowed up by cities, while also fomenting endless resentment against those same cities
and quite frankly, most of the time it's not the cities' fault. the people in them are doing what they gotta do under the system we are all forced to live in.
most of the towns could be saved within 1-3 years, if the state governments had the will to do so. they don't.
most of the towns could be saved within 1-3 years, if the state governments had the will to do so. they don't.
and most of the loudest supposed proponents for those towns are the ones actively making and encouraging policies and societal management that not only encourage the destruction of those towns, but actually DEMANDS it
do you understand what happens to the loser in a competition system? especially one where the winners inevitably suck up all the resources?
they fucking die
they fucking die
it's the bullshit "trickle down" theory writ across not just people, but communities. the big get bigger. everyone else submits or dies.
towns "don't have the budget" to maintain necessary infrastructure (physical, economic, cultural, etc.) to survive
but a town's budget constraints are, in many ways, dictated by the state government. not all ways, but *many many many ways*
but a town's budget constraints are, in many ways, dictated by the state government. not all ways, but *many many many ways*
"oh but Nae, how can a poor town or county tax what's not there?" they can't, you're right
it is the state's duty to make up the difference. and they are derelict in that.
it is the state's duty to make up the difference. and they are derelict in that.
Look, i almost hate to do this, but like let's talk resource/civilization management video games.
you sometimes have outposts/towns/entire regions/whatever that don't turn a profit in and of themselves, but you maintain for other things they bring to the table.
you sometimes have outposts/towns/entire regions/whatever that don't turn a profit in and of themselves, but you maintain for other things they bring to the table.
maybe access to a strategic resource, a population base to draw from, even just basic "this is mine and not someone else's" territory reasons.
if they can't make it locally, it has to be imported.
if they can't make it locally, it has to be imported.
The federal and state governments of the United States are, for the most part, leaving the localities to wither and die. The decision-makers, on balance, do not see the value in investment, if it does not increase their point total, i.e. their bank accounts.
but you can't run a country like that! not for more than a generation or so, it breaks down and... oh look, let me just...
*gestures wildly at JUST FUCKING EVERYTHING*
*gestures wildly at JUST FUCKING EVERYTHING*
The money exists. The will doesn't.
changing that is... an undertaking.
changing that is... an undertaking.
