Motor City blues: Corruption also helped send Detroit to bankruptcy

There will be much discussion of the recent announcement that Detroit will become the largest city ever to file bankruptcy.

And much of that financial ruin will be credited to the number of people who have left the state and the demise of the automobile industry.

But there is more to the story -- and a lesson for anyone who thinks they do not need to pay attention to the comings and goings of the people who run their city, state or federal government.

There have been many, many stories over the past few years about the corruption, mishandled funds and the incompetence of the men and some women chosen to run the city of Detroit.

In fact, some of the stories have been downright astonishing. It doesn't seem possible that anyone would take advantage of the taxpayers when the city they were leading was in such financial straits -- and even more surprising that they could get away with it.

But they did -- and now, Detroit, Michigan -- and possibly the rest of the nation's taxpayers -- will have to pay to clean up the mess.

So what is the moral of the story?

Pay attention. Speak up. Know what they are doing at city hall, the county commission office or the statehouse.

You might think it does not affect you, but it does -- in a big way.

Here's some food for thought: What do you think is going to happen to property values in Detroit?

Scary huh.

Published in Editorials on July 19, 2013 12:08 PM