Large cities represent a socio-geographical organizational scheme going back to ancient times. But what are they now in many places in the US? Urban sprawl, filled with crime, gangs, drugs, trash, dense population, slum neighborhoods, homeless, abandoned buildings, traffic congestion, high prices, high taxes, bad schools, corrupt government, air pollution.

In ancient times, there was an advantage to close proximity of individuals, stores, etc. The original lure of US cities that spurred their growth was the factories that began being located there during the Industrial Age. In the Internet age, and in a country that's moved greatly toward a service economy, the proximity is not needed nearly as much. The interaction between individuals is by e-mail or social networks. There are some things that people need to be physically close to — emergency services for example. But online retail is booming, whereas brick-and-mortar stores are fading away. 

Look at today's US cities, particularly in the rust belt and the illegal alien belt. Lots of northern cities, nightmarish Detroit and Newark being the best (worst?) examples, exist mostly as political entities. That is, they are run by democrat political machines whose chief purpose is to get re-elected, and between elections serve as a distribution point for state and federal welfare services, pork, and patronage. Los Angeles, once a fantastic city, now exists mainly to serve the needs of its huge illegal alien population.

The country would be bettered if most of these places disappeared, and were replaced by new medium-sized cities and new towns.   

Possumpoint wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 8:46pm:


Movement will happen naturally without government influence to stall it.

patrick2 wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 9:20pm:

That assumes that the cities retain sufficient tax base to support its service responsibilities, pension costs and welfare rolls. In the absence of that base, the city will eventually experience collapse. That may very well result in sudden migration. Sudden migration has occurred in this country in the past. Look to the Grapes of Wrath and the results of the dust storms and poverty caused by the great depression. Those immigrants to California weren't always well received despite their work ethic.

Possumpoint wrote on Mar 25^th, 2012 at 8:46pm:


And possibly make those smaller cities big cities.   

forgotten centrist wrote on Mar 26^th, 2012 at 9:24am:


That's only because they're big.  Five medium cities = one big city, without the crime, trash, traffic, pollution, etc etc