You must have read the weird news about the Ailes family. The father of the family died, and when the pall bearers were trying to lower the coffin in the grave, the platform gave way, and all of them fell in to the grave. The son of the dead man was caught below his father's coffin, 'grave'ly wounded like all the others. The family blamed the city administration.
Where do you think this creepy accident could have possibly taken place? Any guesses? Well, it is Philadelphia in the U.S., THE city of American identity as it was here that the major events of the American War of Independence materialised in multiple ways.
Well, many such travesties of civic amenities are "ghosting" many American cities. That is to say, very many American cities, once dream destinations, are now being abandoned, and in droves. The list is literally endless.
What possibly are the reasons? It is the money, honey! In other words, manufacturing, tech as well as farming jobs are drying up. In addition to rising unemployment, crumbling public infrastructure and declining educational standards are making cities un-live/love-able for families. Huge homelessness and the forever rising curve of the crime rate, be it car jacking or burglaries and muggings are other major reasons.
Climate change and the resultant lack of potable water, not to forget the horrible hurricanes, et al, are the other reasons. Lack of entertainment and social life is another oft cited cause. The situation is so grim that a small town like Blytheville in the Arkansas region is actually paying people to settle-n- stay there!
In a way, such facts explain why Trump's MAGA call resonates so resoundingly. Obviously, immigrants are always the easiest scapegoats. The fact, however, is that the glitter of the American Dream is fading.
Incidentally, such ghost cities are a reality in China as well. Wuhan, notorious since the days of the COVID epidemic, has huge high-rises without any residents. The real estate business in China is a bone (of contention) that can neither be swallowed nor can it be spit out!
What can India learn from such giant tragedies? No use gloating over democracy (unlike China)! Neither will it benefit blaming capitalism. Our very own villages, even three-tier cities, are no different, given the huge urbanisation which in its turn makes the mega metro cities collapse. Very soon the usual Tumbai tales would be afloat! The political party warfare could carry on endlessly, while population explosion, ideological issues, job loss due to the invading A.I., and many such other bombs keep on ticking to explode any time!
In other words, the dying American cities can teach Indian towns many lessons which we MUST learn, and by heart!
Pratima@ When the grass is greyer on the other side, time to realise that all that glitters need not be gold!
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