3 ms·

But why rebuild it? What's the value proposition of Detroit? Why should capital -- both monetary and human -- flow to Detroit when there's already plenty of exc

by joonix 13y ago

But why rebuild it? What's the value proposition of Detroit? Why should capital -- both monetary and human -- flow to Detroit when there's already plenty of excess capacity available in other well-established American cities? And please don't say low COL, because that's a function of Detroit not attracting aforementioned capital. I'm genuinely curious.

zenocon 13y ago
i guess you nuke it then. game over.
- CamperBob2 13y ago
  The pay-per-view rights alone would cover a lot of those pension obligations.
yardie 13y ago
That is a valid question. Why rebuild Detroit when there are other cities who are in much better shape financially and structurally. There are abandoned towns all over the mid-west and west coast. They were abandoned when the gold ran out, when the trains bypassed them, when the interstate was built. Detroit, AFAICT, is a manufacturing town in an era where manufacturing is no longer being done. At least not by humans. Robots don't care where they are situated (in the city or in the desert) and don't pay taxes.
- thesagan 13y ago
  However with a strong robotics industry in the Detroit area, it may be easier servicing those robots if they were installed near, say, Detroit.
- zenocon 13y ago
  I beg to differ. I think it is an asinine question (hence my "then just nuke it" quip below.) What's the alternative for the people that live here / have lived here a long time. They have history here, livelihood, businesses, family, roots... The people that live here will rebuild it, and they/we are. Armchair social engineering isn't really required or desired.
thesagan 13y ago
To name a few from the top of my head: 1. Strategic location along the straits and along an international border. 2. Most (almost all) of the needed infrastructure is already in place. 3. Many reputable universities in the area, including two Big 10 schools. 4. An educated workforce (well, those who have stayed in-state). 5. Top-notch medical and robotics industry and innovators in the area. 6. Scenic travel destinations directly to the north (and west on Lake MI). 7. Situated smack-dab in the middle of the industrial shipping corridor between Chicago and Toronto 8. Excellent international shipping facilities and international port of entries (DTW, etc.)

by joonix 13y ago

zenocon 13y ago

i guess you nuke it then. game over.

CamperBob2 13y ago
The pay-per-view rights alone would cover a lot of those pension obligations.

yardie 13y ago

That is a valid question. Why rebuild Detroit when there are other cities who are in much better shape financially and structurally. There are abandoned towns all over the mid-west and west coast. They were abandoned when the gold ran out, when the trains bypassed them, when the interstate was built. Detroit, AFAICT, is a manufacturing town in an era where manufacturing is no longer being done. At least not by humans. Robots don't care where they are situated (in the city or in the desert) and don't pay taxes.

thesagan 13y ago
However with a strong robotics industry in the Detroit area, it may be easier servicing those robots if they were installed near, say, Detroit.
zenocon 13y ago
I beg to differ. I think it is an asinine question (hence my "then just nuke it" quip below.) What's the alternative for the people that live here / have lived here a long time. They have history here, livelihood, businesses, family, roots... The people that live here will rebuild it, and they/we are. Armchair social engineering isn't really required or desired.

thesagan 13y ago

To name a few from the top of my head: 1. Strategic location along the straits and along an international border. 2. Most (almost all) of the needed infrastructure is already in place. 3. Many reputable universities in the area, including two Big 10 schools. 4. An educated workforce (well, those who have stayed in-state). 5. Top-notch medical and robotics industry and innovators in the area. 6. Scenic travel destinations directly to the north (and west on Lake MI). 7. Situated smack-dab in the middle of the industrial shipping corridor between Chicago and Toronto 8. Excellent international shipping facilities and international port of entries (DTW, etc.)