Obama considers razing U.S. cities to the ground

[Admiral Yi]

So why would the federal government be involved with this? Can't the Flint city council or mayor or whoever just decide to do it?

Cities like free money.  Obama likes to give free money.

[Ed Anger]

I favor bulldozing Michigan.

[Ed Anger]

The Appian way has fallen into disrepair:

http://www.wwmt.com/articles/roads-1363526-mich-counties.html

LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Some Michigan counties have turned a few once-paved rural roads back to gravel to save money.
     
More than 20 of the state's 83 counties have reverted deteriorating paved roads to gravel in the last few years, according to the County Road Association of Michigan. The counties are struggling with their budgets because tax revenues have declined in the lingering recession.
     
Montcalm County converted nearly 10 miles of primary road to gravel this spring.
     
The county estimates it takes about $10,000 to grind up a mile of pavement and put down gravel. It takes more than $100,000 to repave a mile of road.
     
Reverting to gravel has happened in a few other states but it is most typical in Michigan. At least 50 miles have been reverted in the state in the past three years.

Time to stock up on food and ammo. The country is falling apart.

[Barrister]

Gravel roads are a sign of the collapse?

Someone should tell Yukon Dep't of Highways...

[jimmy olsen]

Gravel roads are a sign of the collapse?

Someone should tell Yukon Dep't of Highways...

You have to have civilization before it can collapse.

[Ed Anger]

Gravel roads are a sign of the collapse?

Someone should tell Yukon Dep't of Highways...

Nobody cares what goes on in the Client Kingdoms. Goddamn uppity canucks.

[Jaron]

What the hell is going on in this country?

[Ed Anger]

Nooooooo! Not Perkins!

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery. Company accountants could probably use some of the comfort food on the menu at this diner-style franchise, which has about 500 locations, mostly in the Midwest. Like other restaurants, Perkins has been able to cut food costs since they soared in 2007. But revenue has fallen, and the parent firm lost $9.7 million in the first quarter. S&P says the firm's liquidity position is "tenuous." With market share of just 8 percent, Perkins is more vulnerable to a lousy economy that competitors like Denny's (22 percent market share) and IHOP (19 percent). Perkins also owns the Marie Callender's Restaurant and Bakery chain, which suffers from similar financial burdens. Plus, Marie Callender is based in hard-hit California, which has been hammered by the housing bust.

A company spokesperson says Perkins has cut expenses by $7.3 million to help shore up its finances, delayed some remodeling, and called a halt to expansion.

Where will I get my pancakes in a non-herpes enviroment?

[CountDeMoney]

They include Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Memphis.

Hear, hear.  I say start alphabetically.

[Strix]

I'm not particularly convinced that physical sprawl is the main problem afflicting decaying industrial cities, or that reducing sprawl will help address the other problems.

Getting rid of abandoned buildings should cut down on crime though.

Yes, yes it would. At my job, we spend a lot of early mornings (we start at 5:00 am) clearing abandoned buildings looking for absconders. The average abandoned building in Rochester has 3-5 druggies, 1-2 prostitutes, and usually 1-2 people wanted for something by law enforcement. Now multiply that by the 2,800 abandoned buildings within the city limits and that's a lot of little "crime" zones.

[Neil]

Gravel roads are a sign of the collapse?

Someone should tell Yukon Dep't of Highways...

The Yukon is uninhabited.  There's no reason for them to have decent highways.  Michigan is heavily populated.  It needs an efficient transport system in order to ensure the efficient distribution of goods and skilled workers.

[DGuller]

Gravel roads are a sign of the collapse?

Someone should tell Yukon Dep't of Highways...

You have to have civilization before it can collapse.

[DGuller]

I think it's a great idea, I think I suggested it in the Detroit thread myself.  City slums are like gangrenous extremities, and are best removed.

[Viking]

Come to think of it, Hansy might be right.. Barack Hussein might succede where Saddam Hussein failed, and flatten a US city.

[Grey Fox]

I like it! Thumpsup!