re: I've been thinking lately about some of the great American cities that've become shitholes

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The car and urban renewal ruined American cities. Nothing else comes close.

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You sure do have your head in the sand for such an intelligent individual.

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You sure do have your head in the sand for such an intelligent individual.

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My perspective on this is formed by the works coming out analyzing the medical effects of mid-century infrastructure projects, which combined with the dismantling of the state psychiatric hospital system, all play a massive role in why American cities are the way they are currently. These same cities were far better planned in the early part of the century than they were in the post-war era. Urban renewal itself had generational effects which are still present today, and also contributed to displacement of whole neighborhoods, which in no small part drove formative interactions of the civil rights movement. Add to that the drug war, which furthered the deterioration of cities until arguably the mid-noughties, and you have the same relative set of problems in each American city. It is alarming to me that humans became rather good at designing cities before the car, and all that accumulated knowledge was disregarded due to the advent of the car.

Add Milwaukee and Madison to the list. Madison has become a sewer under Mayor Sunbeam. Milwaukee is a little better, just stay away from the north side.

There’s a lot more.

Columbus

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Cleveland

Cincinnati

Etc.

Basically every major city in every state.

It’s a shitshow.

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but I’d get bored and feel isolated very quick if I lived on 10 acres 30 miles outside of town.

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There is a definite, calming satisfaction with being able to pee off your porch, day or night. Give me the country. "Big city, turn me loose and set me free."

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Memphis has deteriorated considerably

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Ya think?

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It is alarming to me that humans became rather good at designing cities before the car, and all that accumulated knowledge was disregarded due to the advent of the car.

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Understatement. How anyone would prefer car sewers boggles the mind.

Isn't Chicago basically segregated and most of the crime occurs in one area?

Even smaller cities are in trouble. Portland Maine has a large homeless population and what appears to be an open air drug market, in a city park, right across from the post office. The grafiti and trash surprised me too. It’s a dirty city.

I worry what these people will do to Bozeman.