America qua Rome: The Cost of Circuses
"All politics is local." The St. Louis Rams just abandoned the city that built a stadium for them, leaving behind a debt of $144 million. You cannot blame the Washington bureaucrats, or international bankers. This is deeply cultural.
"In 2002, St. Louis city voters displayed their frustration with public stadium financing by passing a ballot measure that required a public vote to approve any future sports subsidies.
But last summer, a judge invalidated the law as too vague. The next day, voters rejected a $180 million proposal to purchase more fire trucks and improve police equipment."
Full story from Reuters here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spo...
"In 2002, St. Louis city voters displayed their frustration with public stadium financing by passing a ballot measure that required a public vote to approve any future sports subsidies.
But last summer, a judge invalidated the law as too vague. The next day, voters rejected a $180 million proposal to purchase more fire trucks and improve police equipment."
Full story from Reuters here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spo...
My brother and I grew up playing football, me in college. But, we've grown so tired of the joke that pro sports has become that we're going fishing on Sunday, instead. Can't even get ourselves to watch the game much anymore...
A large part of the problem is that many if not most Americans have no idea what money is, where it comes from, and how to use it. To most, it is a mythical item that gets you stuff. As a result they are entirely flummoxed when the improper use of money causes bad consequences.
every April fifteenth! -- j
.
Too bad St Louis didn't think to hire HRM Donald to negotiate on their behalf.
Wonder why the taxes go up in places like Seattle?????? Go down and look at the traffice mess. Both stadiums and two interstates and the ferry docks all in the same area.
And they added light rail....