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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBuzzfeed: Completely Surreal Photos Of America’s Abandoned Malls
Hello GD. I'd originally posted this in the Lounge here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=edit&forum=1018&thread=600268. What I discovered was that the discussion wasn't very "Loungey": there was a lot to say about politics, a changing America, and a shrinking middle class. So I thought I'd cross post this here.
Complete photo collection and article at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/completely-surreal-pictures-of-americas-abandoned-malls
Jesus Malverde
(10,274 posts)postulater
(5,075 posts)longship
(40,416 posts)HughBeaumont
(24,461 posts)When you give no opportunity to a state's inhabitants (whether through plant closings, jobs being offshored, corporate shenanigans, youth flight, compromised government, etc) and take away their ability to consume . . . well, demand dries up . . .
Outdoor malls, however, are thriving here . . . in freezing NE Ohio. Go figure that out.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Sarah Ibarruri
(21,043 posts)tularetom
(23,664 posts)1. The disturbing loss of middle class jobs which led to
2. The rise of the big box store. Around here you could land a jetliner on the parking lot of the local malls, but you can't find a parking place at Costco, Walmart or Target. And that has resulted in
3. Financial difficulties of anchor tenants. Sears and Penneys are in deep trouble and other national retailers not far behind. And as major tenants are lost the rents to the other tenants have increased.
4. Finally, the cost of heating and cooling these monstrosities has pushed the rents up so high that many of the smaller shops are closing down or moving elsewhere.
I won't miss the crappy malls. I live 30 miles from the nearest one and I get there less than once a year. I find that the stores that remain cater primarily to teenage girls which is apparently the last segment of the population with disposable income.
1000words
(7,051 posts)Thick syrup, standing in lines
The malls are the soon to be ghost towns
so long, farewell, good-bye."
(written in 1996)
WillyT
(72,631 posts)X_Digger
(18,585 posts)I can't remember the last time I set foot in one. I know it's at least 20 years.
JoeyT
(6,785 posts)and how many hungry people could've been fed or homeless people housed with all that money.
By the way, your link to the lounge thread goes to the edit for the post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018600268
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)progressoid
(49,999 posts)Blanks
(4,835 posts)Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)It killed the downtown, helped bolster white flight, advocated sprawl, the use of the automobile and a throwaway culture that still dominates our country today.
So glad malls are dying. It's a sign America is finally growing up.