Abandoning America, has the golden goose lost its gloss?

[Augiedog]

I wonder if a rational comparison can be made between corporate and billionaire class abandonment of America and the infrastructure collapse we are in the midst of. It seems an almost stereotypical series of social fractures are in ongoing play as the common man stands by and watches as the fabric of our country is allowed to unravel. Bridges collapse or are rescued in dramatic evening news fashion, trains run off the rails and explode, electric grids fail, airports are an almost comic example of harrowing daring do, highways crumble, rivers are toxic, ground water is flammable and this is just a cursory list of the ailments afflicting our Republic. We stand idlely by waiting for trickle down solutions to these and many more structural defects.
Like an abandoned neighborhood in a major city the money and owners are just gone, vanished and apparently untraceable leaving the underclass to clean up an intractable mess. The wealthy seem to be investing in exotic lands far from our shores. Hiding vast amounts of cash in places most of us never heard of, they give us a " who me" look reminiscent of Alfred E Newman. Detroit is a microcosm of what is becoming a spreading national philosophy of "let it burn" as those able to flee the flames, run, turning off the water as they go.
Shiney sparkling new places await the billionaires dollars and they see no need to assist in cleaning up the sewer they have created. They don't like the contaminated land that we are becoming, it stains their wingtip shoes and dirties their leer jets windows. The grass is much greener elsewhere and there is no need to be concerned about annoying little people whining about their condition, as if they had a condition anyone needed to be aware of let alone concerned about.

[tech3149]

1. There was an article in a financial rag back in 2005/2006

that pretty much gave that perspective. It was a forecast for retail marketing stating the only growth markets in this country were the Tiffanies and dollar stores. I'm pretty sure wherever you live in this country you can see it being played out.
Even in my own rather rural working class area, the only development has been a proliferation of dollar stores.
After all, with India and China having a few billion people, who need a few hundred million here in the US as customers.

[Doctor_J]

2. Ya think?

We're practically 3rd world, and will be there soon without a drastic change of course.

[hifiguy]

3. Some people just want to watch the world burn

from their hidey holes on private islands or in the mountains.

They would kill everyone else if they could find a way to do it and there was money in it,