City Politics, Country Politics
Over on Anchor Rising, Marc Comtois has pulled together a handful of stories in the subcategory of “two Americas”:
Hendrickson puts some stock in the so-called “Curley Effect”, named after the former Boston Mayor. Basically, it has two parts: first, that politicians provide enough incentives to their own voters to ensure continued support; second provide enough disincentives such that their political opponents decide to move out, thereby increasing said politicians vote share, etc. (Seems to be working in RI, too).
Yet, while that may explain continuing support for Democrats amongst those receiving government assistance and public unions, Hendrickson asks, “Why do affluent, white-collar, highly educated citizens in these cities tend to be liberal and vote Democratic?” In a word, insularity.
As often happens, over there, the comment-section discussion is worth reading, as well. That especially became true with the very agitated commentary of young urban-dweller Mangeek. As I’ve commented at the above link, I find a number of intellectual and philosophical problems embedded in his self-admitted rage.
Continue reading on the Ocean State Current…
“Why do affluent, white-collar, highly educated citizens in these cities tend to be liberal and vote Democratic?”
That’s an easy one. They are extremists clinging bitterly to their atheism, abortions and amnesty.
Being unable to control the impetuosity of my thoughts, I found that this comment was too long to post on “that other site”. Let us not mythologize about the former nature of cities. Not so long ago antique shops were filled with pocket pistols and sword canes, the sword canes were not because our ancestors were feeble. Armories were located in the best neighborhoods, to offer sanctuary when “the rabble rose in the streets”. The “Curley Effect”. For those not familiar, Curley was one of the most corrupt mayors Boston has ever had. He was even re-elected in jail. Those who read the Boston papers will understand that he has not lost his charm. About 10 years ago there was a great search conducted to find “Curley’s Desk”, so that it could be returned to the Mayor’s office. Real estate developers remember him best for his establishment of neighborhood clinics. To accomplish this he approached Boston’s real estate king pin (I believe the name was White, but I am probably mistaken). He explained to Mr. White that he needed to build neighborhood clinics and would probably have to raise taxes. Since Mr. White was Boston’s largest taxpayer, it was understood who would be hurt the most. At Curley’s advice, Mr. White agreed to “donate” the funds required. This is now official policy in Boston, and many cities; it is now known as “linkage”. Some asides. Some years ago I was involved with renovating a few buildings in Boston’s South End. The “Brownstones” were acquired by young couples. As soon as their children reached an age to go outside, they built 10 foot masonry walls around the “rear yard”. When the children reached “school age”, they moved. The politicians view “urban pioneers” solely as “taxpayers”, they are unmoved by their concerns.… Read more »
Taxing based on the value of a home seems silly. It’s regressive in many circumstances, arbitrary in others, and subject to all sorts of political shenanigans. Worst of all, when the tax rate is high, it actually encourages people to devalue their homes and forgo things like additions.
We should be taxing income, if anything, then reimbursing the towns and cities based on where the income was generated and who generated it (so I made $100 at work in Providence, I live in Pawtucket, and I paid $3 in state income taxes on it. Give $1 to the state, $1 to Providence, and $1 to Pawtucket, or something like that). If local taxes need to exist, then we should be taxing ‘square footage’ instead of ‘value’, which would encourage high value, high density growth.