Baltimore

​President Trump and Rep. Elijah Cummings have been engaged in a silly Twitter feud. This has focused attention on the many serious problems Baltimore faces. It certainly isn’t alone. We see many of the same problems in these cities. They include:

1. Public corruption – The Baltimore mayor had to resign because she was using her office to profit from a children’s book she wrote. Corruption in Maryland is nothing new. Spiro Agnew had to resign the vice presidency nearly fifty years ago for taking bribes.
2. Hostility to police – Baltimore is a perfect example. The Freddie Gray case totally destroyed police morale. Condemning the police may get votes but hurts the city.
3. Hostility to business – During the riots, the mayor didn’t seem concerned about damage to private property.
4. Discouraging personal responsibility – The focus is often on blaming racism or some other excuse.
5. Coziness with unions – When Detroit went bankrupt, it had twice the employees a city of that size needed yet they were tearing down streetlights. Clearly the city was run for the workers, not the citizens. That ensures a steady flow of campaign contributions.

It does not have to be this way. Both Detroit and Pittsburgh were basically single industry cities. Each saw their population drop by roughly the same percentage. Pittsburgh is thriving while Detroit is a basket case. Both cities have been run by Democrats for decades, so it isn’t a matter political party.
​
The real problem is politicians that put getting elected (and maybe making some money on the side) above the needs of their constituents.