Comments on: Detroit’s decline, and Krugman’s explanation

By: John Fembup

John Fembup — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 17:12:11 +0000

Hugo, it appears you discount the likelihood that Krugman has not changed at all. Only “the administration” changed.

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 02:38:23 +0000

Krugman was my favorite economics columnist during the G.W. Bush years, mercilessly skewering the profligacy and flim-flam that had its inevitable denousment in the summer and fall of 2008. Since Obama came to power, however, he has become an administration flack ready with excuses for almost anything. But that is not a failing unique to center-left commentators.

By: Hugo S. Cunningham

Hugo S. Cunningham — Tue, 23 Jul 2013 19:28:01 +0000

When we had a national rash of carjackings in the early 1990s, many police departments started using decoys– what looked like absent-minded and vulnerable drivers, who were in fact undercover cops backed up by other cops. Some carjackers, surprised by resistance, tried to shoot their way out of trouble and got shot themselves. In Detroit’s suburbs, the result was considered successful, putting a swift end to carjacking. In Detroit itself, however, it was considered terrible and the decoy program was stopped. Any suburban shoppers who had doubts before were now on notice to stay out of Detroit.