The Old Cities

Modern America has created winners and losers. People and places that are educated and fluent in the drivers of the modern economy thrive. Those that are or were dependent on the drivers of the old economy (manufacturing, coal, railroads) are judged to dead or dying.

I am from one of the places adjudged a "loser," (Detroit) and my family comes from the valleys of Pennsylvania that fall into the same category.  The car plants lie empty, and coal has been carved out. A lot of people like me moved away to places like Texas or Minneapolis that are full of life. 

There is a deep sadness to all this. But I am not sure the premises--the winners/losers narratives-- are correct.

Certainly, Detroit is a challenging place to live, given the economic problems, crime, and a terrible reputation. But is it a loser?

My dad certainly doesn't think so-- he pretty much has a whole blog about that. I think he is right, too. Despite the challenges, many true winners emerge; and I think that one reason they do is not in spite of but because of those challenges. It creates a desire and drive to succeed, and allows some people to emerge where social forces would hold them back in fancier places. If you look at the most successful people, there usually is some grittiness to them. And Detroit is all about grittiness.

The interesting thing about Detroit and those Appalachian hills of Pennsylvania is that they still have what was there before the coal was dug out or the auto plants were built. Those valleys are beautiful and verdant. Detroit sits astride a clean, fast river and is the only large city on the northern border. We are so terrible at seeing what will happen next, but then it does and we all nod and say "huh!" Losers are winners and winners are losers if you wait long enough. Going to middle school and then growing up should have at least taught us that.