An examination of America’s poorest cities shows a clear connection between the political leadership of the cities and their wealth and/or poverty. I let you draw your own conclusions if there is a clear correlation between stimulus and/or welfare programs and poverty.

% Of population below poverty level

1. Detroit, MI - 32.5% - Last Republican Mayor – 1961

2. Buffalo, NY - 29.9% - Last Republican Mayor – 1954

3. Cincinnati, OH – 27.8% - Last Republican Mayor – 1984

4. Cleveland, OH – 27.0% - Last Republican Mayor – 1989

5. Miami, FL - 26.9% - Last Republican Mayor - Never

6. St. Louis, MO – 26.8% - Last Republican Mayor – 1949

7. El Paso, TX – 26.4% - Last Republican Mayor – Never

8. Milwaukee, WI – 26.2% - Last Republican Mayor - 1908

9. Philadelphia, PA – 25.1% - Last Republican Mayor – 1952

10. Newark, NJ – 24.2% - Last Republican Mayor - 1907

It should be noted that six of the ten made the top ten list for population loss:

1. St. Louis, MO – 59.4% decline- From 856,796 to 348,189 people

2. Buffalo, NY – 49.8% decline – From 580.132 to 292,648 people

3. Detroit, MI – 48.6% decline – From 1,849,568 to 951,270 people

4. Cleveland, OH – 47.7% decline – From 914,808 to 478,403 people

5. Newark, NJ – 37.7% decline - From 438,776 to 273,546 people

6. Philadelphia, PA – 26.7% decline – From 2,071,605 to 1,517,560 people

It is particularly ironic that Detroit was the richest city in the world in 1950.

I am thinking that there is a pattern here.

Yoda

Yes. It shows that cities that profited from the United States being the only country with a manufacturing base that hasn't been bombed out in WWII are suffering the decline if they thought those conditions would last forever.

At least, that's my extrapolation from seeing the dominance of Rust Belt cities on that list.

Miami and El Paso, though, have immigrant influxes being the most likely cause of their representation.

Newark? Well, we all have our opinions of THAT city.

Philadelphia is known for political problems and now my daughter lives there...