Poorest Cities in the U.S.

A list of the poorest cities in America. Here are the top 15, notice anything in common?

• 1. Detroit, 33.3% in poverty (Mayor, Democrat since 1962)
  
• 2. Cleveland, 30.5% in poverty (Mayor, Democrat since 1990)
  
• 3. Buffalo, 30.3% in poverty (Mayor, Democrat since 1966)
  
• 4. Newark, 26.1% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since at least 1915)
  
• 5. Miami, 25.6% in poverty (Mayor, currently independent, before 2001 Democrats back to 1957)
  
• 6. Fresno, 25.5% in poverty (Mayor, Republicans since 1996)
  
• 7. Cincinnati, 25.1% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since 1980)
  
• 8. Toledo, 24.7% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since 1990)
  
• 9. El Paso, 24.3% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since at least 1990)
  
• 10. Philadelphia, 24.1% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since 1952)
  
• 11. Milwaukee, 23.4% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since 1960, Socialist before that)
  
• 12. Memphis, 23.1% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since at least 1910)
  
• 13. St. Louis, 22.9% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since 1949)
  
• 14. Dallas, 22.6% in poverty (Mayor, Republican since 2007, before that Democrats since 1995)
  
• 14. New Orleans, 22.6% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since 1961, preceded by an independent, then Democrats back to 1868)
  
• 16. Atlanta, 22.4% in poverty (Mayor, Democrats since at least 1962)
  

I would argue that the large levels of poverty in these cities which have mostly had Democratic administrations semi-permanently is due to the misguided policies of those administrations. However, it can also be argued that these cities just vote for Democrats because they have largely poor populations, but then it is also clear that those years of Democratic policies have not been particularly helpful. Keep this in mind as you ponder the proposals of the Michigan Democrats (a state in horrible fiscal shape and with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation):

The state Democratic Party (MDP) has raised eyebrows and drawn fire by suggesting some controversial ballot proposals for next year’s general elections.

With the heading of “Putting People First,” they listed them as such:
* Mandating all employers to provide affordable health care for their employees and dependents or pay a penalty.
* Raising the minimum wage from $7.40 per hour to $10 and covering all workers with no exceptions.
* Increasing unemployment benefits by $100/week, making all workers eligible and adding six months to the time one can receive benefits.
* Cutting utility rates by 20 percent.
* Imposing a one-year moratorium on home foreclosures.

Why not raise the minimum wage to $500/hr? Then all the workers in Michigan can live like high-powered NY corporate lawyers and with all the extra tax revenue from those additional wages Michigan can close their enormous budget deficits. If you can't spot the fallacy in the above proposal, then you too can become a Democratic politician.