Another fine piece from Walter Russell Mead
This is excellent:
New York City has been governed by liberals for generations. Surely if blue policies could produce an egalitarian utopia with a strong middle class, we would see it in New York before we would see it anywhere else. If liberals were good at running cities, people from all over the world would be coming to study New York’s public schools, marveling at the extraordinary success with which unionized teachers were transforming the lives of low income kids. Our transit system would be the envy of the world as well; awestruck visitors from benighted places like Shanghai and Tokyo would come to gaze in amazement at the speed, cleanliness and economy of the New York subways. Small business formation would be booming as the bustling economy of manufacturing start ups created opportunities in the inner cities.
Yeah, well. Margaret Thatcher on OPM.
Posted by: JorgXMckie | October 29, 2012 at 09:51 AM
A fine piece indeed. But Mead...well,....
It depends on one's measures. Since Leftists denounce technology (which requires energy) and praise various corruptions, it would be more accurate to describe New York City as a Liberal Utopia inhabited by people who are dumbstruck that visitors from around world don't fly in to admire Utopia.
Posted by: ErisGuy | October 29, 2012 at 11:38 AM
Ann Coulter's new book "Mugged" has a devastating analysis of how NYC got where it is today.
Posted by: Patrick R. Sullivan | October 29, 2012 at 12:27 PM
Odd. I can recall when the NYC schools were generally regarded as pretty good -- I met a batch of their graduates in college in Massachusetts. Also the subway system seemed pretty damned marvelous the couple of times I got there, and I don't recall seeing a lot of vacant buildings when I wandered around so I suspect the economy was basically okay.
Of course this was back in the 60's, and taxes were a lot higher, so that probably had something to do with. You agree?
Posted by: mike shupp | October 30, 2012 at 11:34 AM
This makes no sense. This is implying New York City isn't greatest city in the world, isn't the city that never sleeps, isn't the icon for any who hate freedom or capitalism.
This is ideaology absent a reality.
Posted by: John Simpson | October 30, 2012 at 06:04 PM