Saturday 12 September 2020

NY Decline

Forbes put out an interesting article in the fall of 2019, and chatted over the decline of New York state over the past nine years....saying 1-million left.  This was before the Covid-19 and crisis period started. 

Since early 2020?  Between March and late May, the best numbers say in the Manhattan area alone....500k residents up and left.  If you could count the entire state, and the period since late May?  I would take a guess that another 500k residents have left the city/state. 

Before Covid-19 arrived, there was already a consensus among people that the tax situation was becoming a handicap.  Since Covid-19?  Well....social options have dwindled (plays, musicals), and restaurants/bars have basically shutdown.  Crime went in....particularly violent crime.  All of this made people ask the question....is there anything to stay for?  General answer?  No.

Here's the real crisis landscape to look upon....the city only existed because of wealthy people being based there and spending capital like crazy.  They had people who were willing to pay $500 a month on crazy tickets to Broadway shows.  They had people who had lifestyles that revolved around $10k being spent monthly on fashion, trends, and fake fine wine.  They had people who would easily spend $100k on a A-list party....with shrimp flown in and guests wearing $3k Italian shoes. 

It was a Disneyland for adults.....of an extremely different variety.  Now?  I would call it a 2-star Disneyland, with crime evolving on a daily basis.  

Did the Civil War Basically End in 1865?

For about 300-odd reasons, yes.....the war ended on 9 April 1865.  For most folks, depending how rural you were living....you probably didn't know about it for another week or so. 

For about the next five years, the former Confederate states go through a 'rehab' period, and things are kinda laid out as 'recovered'.

In the spring of 1898, I would consider all issues resolved because of the unified US engaging on the US-Spanish War....briefly lasting four months.  At that point, southerners returned with parades, and medals....as part of the national campaign.

The first 'true' southern President?  Wilson.

Participation in WW I?  Another element of the unification.

So why all the flag-waving of the Confederate flag....long gone for almost 155 years?  I would suggest that around one-third of the general population sees the conclusion of the war in a different aspect. 

Some can point toward members of their family having been in the war.  Some can point toward destruction of their local town.  Some simply want a piece of something that lasted less than five years.