The city is directing these resources into 'city planning' and away from all the others you mentioned. In the Apple Store Union Square case, they've already spent a lot of time on this stupid water fountain, now they are doubling down on the stupid and wasting more of everyone's time and money.
I know it takes a teeny bit of effort to imagine... but how would anyone ever get gas, water, police or education without the SF city government... it's impossible that it could happen any other way? Or never been any different!?!? Only by extraneous, ineffective middle management and mini-bar pricing is this possible? Never question how well it's all being done... only the government knows the true path to salvation. Give them all power, nothing can go wrong... oops never mind there it goes again...
I think what you're noting is more of a communication issue between my book learning vs. your tv learning and the associated cultural differences. You might need to get the government to buy me a TV so I can relate to you, and make it a plasma... nothing under 75" inches is acceptable in my culture. And don't touch the sacred heritage of my ancestors and their disco era decorative water fountains!
What's my belief system? That people are better at almost everything than their government? That government is broken and stupid? That's less of a philosophy and more easily observable reality. Further, I'm not pretending to be a politician, in fact I find that an extreme insult. Its the lowest of professions, well below the stately sanitation worker, prostitute, carny, drug mule, and even a few Samsung phone users.
Alright, you claim I am learned through television and pop culture instead of life experiences regarding these matter, let me educate you. Concluding I am naive and unread based on a few retorts on an online tech site is rather, naive and unread. Here we go.
First, I'm speaking through 36 young but very diverse years of experience, from being raised in the U.K. and Germany with socialized democracy to being an American. I have lived in London, Munich, Barcelona, N.Y.C. (home), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, upstate NY (other home) - I have had the benefit of experiencing many different cultures so do not presume to know me through a few comments on an online tech site.
Second, you are very incorrect. The U.S. system may be a Capitalistic "free market" system in theory, however government and the corporate sect have become so intertwined it is ludicrous and naive to believe they are not one and the same. Special interest groups, campaign contributions, lobbyists all impact political elections and policies from the Federal to the State level. Money talks, b.s. walks. If you truly believe government is "evil" and "corrupt" then by proxy you are stating corporations are "evil" and "corrupting". Freedom is an illusion my friend. At one point in American politics and government, one could state the opposite. Yet since the mid 20th century, the game changed.
One might site the GM and mass transit scandal (the "
Great American streetcar scandal") as a crucial tipping point. The General Motors streetcar conspiracy refers to allegations and convictions in relation to a program by General Motors and other companies who purchased and then dismantled streetcar and electric train systems in many American cities. Between 1936 and 1950, National City Lines and Pacific City Lines—with investment from GM, Firestone Tire, Standard Oil of California, Phillips Petroleum, Mack Trucks, and the Federal Engineering Corporation—bought over 100 electric surface-traction systems in 45 cities including Baltimore, Newark, Los Angeles, New York City, Oakland and San Diego and converted them into bus operation. Several of the companies involved were convicted in 1949 of conspiracy to monopolize interstate commerce but were acquitted of conspiring to monopolize the ownership of these companies. The involved companies received a small fine and a slap on the wrist, and yet we are still paying the price as pollution, traffic congestion and environmental disasters have resulted from this new capitalist approach that bought politicians and votes in order to "pave the way". Couple this with Frank Lloyd Wrights contributions to fleeing over crowded cities for a new American suburban dream and Levittown, NY, and it was only a matter of time for the automobile industry and real estate and banks working with federal and local governments in pushing a new automotive and oil and gas economy.
Los Angeles was hit the hardest as it had the best electric mass transit system in the nation, only to be dismantled when GM partnered with oil companies to pave highways, use diesel buses and push the automobile as the new frontier. Frank Lloyd Wrights contributions to American sub-urbanism greatly influenced American topography for decades. In the mid-20th century Wright's belief that automobiles, gas stations, highways and suburban strongholds were the next frontier were laid out in his "Broad Acre City" model. Then Levittown, NY was established after WWII for war vets, followed by "white flight". Many left urban strong holds for the new American Dream, leading to a country of homogeneous denizens separated by class and race in suburban area's. The economical boom of the 1990's saw a reversal of such models, with the X generation pushing gentrification of inner cities. Many wanted to live near work, and enjoy the culture and heterogeneous population coastal cities had to offer. Boston's Back Bay and especially South End (formerly abandoned brownstones and crack houses) became multimillion dollar real estate almost overnight.
In today's society, the line between the corporate and government sects is a very blurred line at best. Claiming local government is to blame for urban decay is ludicrous, as cities experienced a great boom in population since the 80's, bringing business and funding to improve these area's thus requiring local oversight, the very opposite of your claims. Zoning guidelines and committees became a necessity in order to guide cities through booming populations. Without such committees, population density would negatively impact positive growth. Commercial and residential zones required severe rethinking in order to predict traffic patterns that mass transit would alleviate. Commercial (and residential) aesthetic guidelines are not simply strong arming businesses, it impacts real estate value, city image and by proxy tourism, even crime (read "Broken Windows Theory", a well established principal that a simple broken window may lead to a spiraling negative impact on city area's resulting in increased crime and decreased real estate value due to a perceived psychological notion the area must be derelict, here's a great article on its relevance to our discussion,
"The 'Broken Windows' Theory and Community Supervision"). New York City's "Time Square" was not the Disney owned tourist attraction of today. Prostitutes and bars lined the once well regarded theatre district for decades. Then mayor Rudolph Giuliani "partnered" (rather, was bought off by) ABC and Disney, selling real estate to those businesses which lead to a mass gentrification of the area, paving the way for others. However, crime was a major issue, especially in the residential "Hells Kitchen" area. Giuliani approved a police task force to strong arm residents out of the area as well as (questionable) businesses such as porn stores and bars. It was widely known he was paid handsomely as large conglomerate businesses took over the area. It "cleaned up" Times Square, yet many begrudge this time in New York City's history as it took away the character and grit that many loved. Soon, other area's followed, with small mom and pop businesses that defined neighborhoods being replaced with "BestBuy's" and "GAP's". The Upper West Side especially experienced a major turn around, with Broadway and Amsterdam becoming a bland canvas of corporate American blocks and glass and steel buildings replacing the brick and mortar buildings that gave New York such character for decades. New York has experienced so much growth so quickly, places one would never walk alone in the day time let alone live have become prime real estate.
None of this is purely the result of capitalism or state/urban funding, but the working of both systems, many unethically. Stating the government is corrupt in the U.S. is one thing, claiming capitalism is the answer is completely ignorant. So you want to talk about my inexperience some more or do you want to admit you may have your belief system a bit backwards?
*Aside from studying neuropsychology, I also studied urban planning and architecture, T.A.'ing courses at the University of Rochester and Columbia. I'd be more than happy in PM'ing you my dissertation on these matters, "Segregation, Isolation and Fear - The Plight of Modern Urbanism". So to counter your point that I receive my information from television and pop culture, thus I must be naive, I have real life experiences coupled with book smarts to make a rather informative and accurate depiction of the American topography over the last century. Why not discuss the matter intelligently with facts instead of passing your opinions as truth? Please don't attempt to claim I do not know what I write.
It would benefit you greatly if you knew what you were discussing and you addressed others such as "infinitech" and "AidenShaw" with respect and common courtesy.
Post 133Look it up, read all about it...
It seems you would benefit from reading as well.
People respond in kind. I took the time in addressing your claims with facts, events, and sources, try to do the same with others. This is a subject matter of which I am very passionate and well versed, I do not take personal insults lightly and will take the time in addressing relevant points as necessary.
