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Cynthia, I was busy trying to help keep food on the table then
just after leaving the USAF active duty, keeping my head down and working ambulance, so my recollection is a little myopic.
I'm a registered Democrat, but the making of the S&L collapse was during Carter's watch as President...with a Republican congress, if I'm not mistaken. At least in Nebraska, it was propelled by interstate protectionist banking practices (limiting competition) and plain old crony-ism (S&L officials easily concealing inappropriate loans to themselves and significant others from their erstwhile boards of directors and shareholders).
posted by
majroj
on November 29, 2006 at 6:33 AM
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Maj, I had forgotten about the the S&L debacle,
That was another republican administrations gift to our country, like Katrina was Georgie Porgies gift to America. Look at the devastation those folks reap.
posted by
Cynthia
on November 29, 2006 at 2:59 AM
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Cynthia, in rural Nebraska you can see little abandoned strip malls.
Very depressing when the town is "drying up and blowing away", as some did in the early Eighties due to drought and the S&L debacle.
I've been in a major enclosed mall that only 1/2 was occupied, and the other half was dark. Not entirely sad, but spooky.
posted by
majroj
on November 28, 2006 at 6:12 AM
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Wiley, With the US dollar hitting the skids, your Canadian cash
(or in Quebec they seem to use Euros) will be worth a lot more in New York or Boston. Two expensive cities, but now, you'll get more for your money. Hopefully when your hydro mess is over, you'll get a chance to come visit.
posted by
Cynthia
on November 27, 2006 at 3:27 AM
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Maj - as always you present an interesting view of
the evolution of commerce. I never thought about the possibility of the dominant culture in a place actually having an effect on the big mega retail corporations. I find that a good thing. Altough the sight of an abandoned strip mall is a pretty depressing thing.
posted by
Cynthia
on November 27, 2006 at 3:21 AM
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Joe Love, I was i Chicago a few weeks ago myself
but never made it to Macy's. Perhaps they brought in a new management team that pulled them back from the brink of bankruptcy. They sure do a ton of advertising here in Boston.
But I don't understand what you mean by that last remark you made about Wal Mart???
posted by
Cynthia
on November 27, 2006 at 3:16 AM
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Cynthia
Thanks for that luv, wish I could see both Boston and New York with somebody that knows their way around.
Yeah, yeah I know, I hit on ya luv, but I really would like to see those 2 cities that I've been to but really never knew where I was.
posted by
WileyJohn
on November 26, 2006 at 9:39 PM
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Don'ty get me started on WalMart.
Cynthia, we were in Nebraska from 1976 through June'85 and watched as their department stores unraveled due to the enclosed malls, and sometimes due to K Mart and Target opening in the Midwest.
Richman-Gordman's; Brandeis; Safeway and their subsidiary Bargain Barn; others which were big in Lincoln or Omaha, but faded into obscurity and died.
Before we left, Penney's stopped selling toys and tools, then their gas station shut.
We went back last year, and most of the grocery stores we frequented (Hinky Dinky, IGA/Jack and Jill) were empty. And, maybe most disappointing, NO MORE GOODRICH DAIRY STORES!
But, beyond those, and irony of ironies, the covered malls were coming down. Crossroads, during our week there, was already fenced and empty, but they stripped the exterior of glass and fripperies, then dropped it.
Yet, there was quite an upswing in their opposite-dopplegangers, bodegas and tiny, disheveled carnicerias where the people who found the other stores too "Anglo" or too expensive or too "No hablamos" (or insisted upon ID to cash checks and from where you couldn't dens gyros postales home) arwe able to find what they want in the atmosphere they are comfortable in.
posted by
majroj
on November 26, 2006 at 11:48 AM
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I was at Macy's in Downtown Chicago a few weeks ago.
It was actually quite a nice experience. Maybe it was in the same shape 3 years ago (who knows.)
As for Wal-mart. . , I have to admit I don't like going there, BUT, thank goodness they are around. I personally feel they keep the retail industry in check.
posted by
Joe_Love
on November 26, 2006 at 9:38 AM
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