Historically cities were sources of great wealth. Part of the reason was that walls kept the profits safe from marauding bandits. Production was in the hands of the guilds, early forms of labor unions, and they congregated for mutual support and protection. It was also possible for the local authorities to tax more effectively.
As the world of industry and production developed, walls were not the key to cities. Now it was factories and factories needed workers. Thus you would have locations that had access to transportation, like rivers and harbors, and were where raw materials could be gathered. Iron works would need coal and iron ore, a way to ship their products and the people to do the work. This would require more people to build houses and run stores to supply the needs of the people. It was not long before you had the beginnings of modern cities. Men would leave the farms to get jobs in the factories. By modern standards they lived in poor circumstances but for their times it was better than walking behind a plow or swinging a hoe.
We still have factories and production located centrally. They generate a lot of wealth, employ a lot of people and pay a lot of taxes. What also seems to take on a life of its own is a large group of people who are living on the edge. Most scrape by and keep trying. A growing percentage turn to crime. Also down through history cities have spawned a welfare class. Ancient Rome had to deal with the jobless masses. It is where we get the term “bread and circuses”. Today the welfare classes seem to be taking over the cities. When was the last time you heard anyone who wanted to move to the parts of your local big city that are considered run down and dangerous?
With modern technology, transportation and communication it is no longer necessary for the cash cows of industry to stay in the city. More and more are fleeing to greener pastures. Some are driven out by taxes. Some are forced to make decisions because of politics. The basics are, they are closing up shop and leaving. But the cities remain and those left behind tend to depend on the government to support them.
Maybe it is time to have a serious discussion on this. Maybe we have learned all that history can teach us from the lesson of cities.
To be concluded...
homo unius libri
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