Why Can't America Be like Europe?

[kennetha]

74. An old article from the 90's about Paris

explains a lot of differences between our approach to urban life and the French

Fortunately for Paris, the national Government contributes more than half the city's revenues. Because the state pays so much, Paris's affluent families do not shoulder a huge fiscal burden of caring for the immigrants and poor living in the city. This is one reason Paris has not suffered from the middle-class flight that has hurt so many American cities.

As one urban planner puts it: "One reason Paris has so few problems is that the type of people who make problems can't afford to live in Paris." Economic realities force the poor to live in suburbs ringing Paris, but even there, in the ban lieue , the levels of poverty, violence and drugs are a fraction of those in American cities.

"Because of France's republican traditions, there is a real sense of solidarity, a real desire to help the less-well-off," says Roland Castro, director of the national Government's efforts to help the suburbs. "People often point to American cities as a model to avoid. They say, 'That can happen to us if we let things slide.'

Why Paris Works