The Minimum Winning Coalition
by tdaxp ~ November 26th, 2008
In politics, victories are achieved by “minimum winning coalitions.” To the extent possible, each side does what it can to win, which involves selling the goods of victory to potential allies in exchange for their support. So grand coalitions that obtain 70% or 80% of the vote are unusual. Whatever side is losing will promise everything — up to and including kitchen sink bail-outs — in order to attract friends.
While flying cars are still off the agenda, GM, Ford, and Chrysler are beginning to hear what terms will be needed for them to form their minimum winning agenda.
The farm states sound like they can support a bail-out… in exchange for a massive increase in ethanol consumption. Others are talking about federal Volt fleets… or even a free trade agreement with Colombia.
Time is running on Detroit. The median home/condo price there is $9,250. (That is not a typo.)
The New York Times uses top 1% of income, not wealth. From the legend:...
November 26th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
the question is: Is this a good time to buy an investment home in Detroit?
Well, really two others.
Can America support 2 cities with New Orleans level economies?
Or will it bounce back?
November 28th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Is this [1] a city you want to live in?
Certainly it would be better for the country if Detroit would somehow go away, though a snowy New Orleans is probably a more likely outcome.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit#Demographics
November 28th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
A snowy New Orleans without the great music performance culture. I love New Orleans and go there frequently. The last time I was in Detroit I drove through the downtown and I felt – the best way I can put it – wary of my surroundings. It was not a welcoming place.
November 29th, 2008 at 5:53 am
The failures of the city of Detroit demonstrate the need to allow cities to fail. Companies can evaporate. [1] Urban areas can too.
The failures of the education system of Detroit demonstrate the need for industrial quality control to be applied to public schools. [2,3] We know how to make schools successful, but it requires being more hard-headed than we are now.
The failures of the populace of Detroit demonstrate the need for genetic therapy. [4,5]
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/19/protectionism-and-the-detroit-bailout.html
[2] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/11/no-child-left-behind-the-quantitative-revolution-applied-to-publi-schools.html
[3] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/03/science-technology-engineering-mathematics.html
[4] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/06/13/clearing-the-ghettos.html
[5] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/07/03/stem-cell-therapy.html
November 30th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
To purpleslogs comment about Detroit’s music culture, You forget that Detroit has spawned some amazing pop culture music. Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, KISS(?), The White Stripes, Eminem (hey, lots of other people like him)
I have a theory that in todays society poverty=better art.
November 30th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Biz: Is Detroit’s performance music culture alive today? I don’t think it is, but I could be wrong.
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Haven’t heard a whole lot lately. I’m in Fort Wayne, IN (about 2 1/2, 3 hours away) So people I hear about people going up for concerts now and again. Too cold this time of year for anything else
December 2nd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
The non-rustbelt parts of Fort Wayne are, by the way, quite beautiful [1]
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archives/tag/fort-wayne
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:41 pm
US New & World Report’s take.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Extra/7-worst-ways-to-rescue-detroit.aspx
December 6th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Michael,
Generally agreed, with a big exception for #2
http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2008/11/22/hidden-costs.html