From the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
The dwindling of the American middle class has been much documented over the past three decades. Now comes a sobering reminder from the Brookings Institution that middle-class neighborhoods are disappearing even faster than middle-class people. Or, to put it another way, Americans are increasingly sorting themselves geographically into income-based enclaves where the haves and have-nots seldom mingle.
From 1970 to 2000, the proportion of middle-income neighborhoods in the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan areas declined from 58 percent to 41 percent, according to a new Brookings report. That was a faster drop than the metrowide share of middle-income families. Their proportion fell from 28 percent in 1970 to 22 percent in 2000. Given more recent trends in household incomes, it’s likely that the rich-poor gap has continued to widen.
I know that the middle class has been written about a lot. However, I’ve never seen any stats that the middle class overall is actually shrinking. That said, I’m not sure why this author is so confused?
Let’s see if I get this right – I have some money but my neighborhood is going down the toilet as crime goes up, the schools are poor, there’s no where to park, my kids have no place to play, I’d like to have my own single family home with grass and a couple of trees, and I want to get away from the noise and the smells. And the bite of city taxes are rising faster than my income. But this guy is upset that I want out and don’t want to stick around? Umm, no.
While inequality (and opportunity) define the American system, it’s increasingly difficult to give positive spin to the widening gap. The wreckage is easily seen: Schools, parks, transportation systems, police protection, courts and other public institutions deteriorate in central cities where the poor tend to concentrate, while wealthier suburbs skate free.
I do disagree with the overall premise that is developing and carried out through the rest of the article. While it may be true that the middle class may be declining in the cities, the author does not address the relative size of the middle class in suburban and rural areas. If one believes that the middle class can be defined by home ownership (agreed, it is only a single measure but one which has been steadily growing over the last few years), there should be no worry about the middle class.
However, there is certainly a slant to this editorial (an opinion, even if wrongheaded, is fine by me), I also caught that "class-ism" exhibited by the author by the words "…skate free…". Quite the slap of a socialist hand, right? The expectation, then, is that those outside the cities are responsible for them? Lay on that guilt, dude (psst – ain’t gonna work here).
Why shouldn’t that level of government be held responsible for its results? The blame should not be on those that leave the cities – what about placing the blame on those whose policies have made life untenable such that their citizens are leaving?
Hey, I have the right to move to where I believe my family is better served. While I lived in Boston for seven years, I moved – I did not want my family-to-be to grow up in the city. Others wish to – I didn’t. I also voted, with my feet, where I wanted my taxes to go as well as control the amount of taxes I wished to spend.
Look at this way – I feel for the all of the towns of Massachusetts that have to pay for the Big Dig in Boston. Here is this $15 Billion boondoggle with ceilings that don’t stay put and that are flooding massive amounts of sea water way above design estimates and lots of folks outside Route 128 are going to have to fork over LOTS of their hard earned cash for an "urban upgrade" that they may never, ever utilize.
Oh yeah, speaking of policies – the people of MA are moving out too….. wonder why….
