# Cities w/o suburbs: Every metro area in America should have consolidated metro government

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cities-w-o-suburbs-every-metro-area-in-america-should-have-consolidated-metro-government/665395>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [August 5, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cities-w-o-suburbs-every-metro-area-in-america-should-have-consolidated-metro-government/665395 "2013-08-05T14:59:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 13

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**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cities-w-o-suburbs-every-metro-area-in-america-should-have-consolidated-metro-government/665395/241 "2013-08-13T15:34:48Z")

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> [@SlackerInc](#):
>
> So you see, what is really going on here is not about taking from the suburbs and giving to the city, but refusing to continue to subsidise sprawl that is for the benefit only of the affluent.

Well it’s just a matter of where you draw the baseline. Most groups think that they are the true value creators and other groups are just parasites.

Do cities subsidize the suburbs more or vice versa? It’s difficult to say – my point here is merely that the redistribution of resources should be done more at the state and/or federal level than at the local level.

> [@](#):
>
> Maybe you need to check your facts and your assumptions.

Exactly what facts or assumptions have I presented with which you disagree?

> [@](#):
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> Second.
> 
> I have already been arguing in another thread that having low income kids sprinkled throughout schools that now have mostly middle-class and affluent families will not somehow destroy those schools. There is undoubtedly a tipping point, but I don’t foresee that being approached, much less reached.

Well if school districts are combined, you will get more than a sprinkle, no?

> [@](#):
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> Furthermore, we keep hearing these blithe remarks about the affluent families picking up and moving.

Actually I chose my words more carefully – I talked about “exiting” not “moving.”

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cities-w-o-suburbs-every-metro-area-in-america-should-have-consolidated-metro-government/665395/242 "2013-08-13T16:48:27Z")

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> [@brazil84](#):
>
> Well if school districts are combined, you will get more than a sprinkle, no?

Not if everyone stays where they are.

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