Kiplinger's ranks Des Moines #1 - Best Cities for Families (cul-de-sac, homes)

[tollfree]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

But you did use the word ghetto many times. There is no ghetto in Des Moines.

Looking old, unkempt, rundown. What's the difference? The lack of predominately "black" ghetto? East and North DSM could be dropped next to a real ghetto and the lines would blur. That's the point I was making.

[Tek_Freek]

I have a nephew in his mid thirties that throws around the word ghetto with abandon. He is a lifelong loser who will never amount to anything.

Makes me wonder...

[steel03]

This is what a ghetto looks like:

Revolt & Resistance www.HolocaustResearchProject.org


Warsaw Ghetto - Umschlagplatz, Nathan Rappaport Monument, Mila 18, Nozyk Synagogue


(Wikipedia)


This is not a ghetto:

Google Maps


Google Maps


There are a some blocks in Des Moines that need refurbishment (and will likely get it within the next few years), but of course there is no ghetto.

[smpliving]

Ghetto: South Central Los Angeles: Gunfire and shootings on a daily basis, frequent murders, trash littering streets.

[tollfree]

Of course, when dealing with Iowans everything must be taken in the most literal of terms. I never said it was a "true" ghetto, or said it should not be compared to those found in bigger cities. Now, we have examples of World War 2 ghettos. Just plain bizarre.

What I said, and still stand by - there are large swaths of Des Moines city that could be dropped into any industrial/gritty/blighted/ghetto-looking (whatever term you prefer) and they'd blend right in.

A lot of it looks rundown & depressing - not necessarily to be considered "ghetto", and I thought had explained that better, apparently not well enough. At the same time...you're never more than 5 minutes away from a cornfield (regardless or where in DSM metro - so it can't be that bad.)

[Tek_Freek]

Define Ghetto

A ghetto or a "true" ghetto? There is no difference. It either is or it isn't. If you're going to toss out words be honest about it.

[tollfree]

A better phrase would be "old and rundown". Des Moines doesn't have a large enough black population to have a ghetto in the American sense.

The meth-infested (also old and rundown) east and north sides of town aren't exactly the reason Des Moines makes these lists. Those parts of town are ignored. Not all of the metro is family friendly. Some of you can't accept that, that's fine.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

A better phrase would be "old and rundown". Des Moines doesn't have a large enough black population to have a ghetto in the American sense.

The meth-infested (also old and rundown) east and north sides of town aren't exactly the reason Des Moines makes these lists. Those parts of town are ignored. Not all of the metro is family friendly. Some of you can't accept that, that's fine.

And you can't accept the fact that the east and north side are not that bad. So whatever.

[tollfree]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

And you can't accept the fact that the east and north side are not that bad. So whatever.

Lol, ok. All those meth labs make for a great part of town.

[Tek_Freek]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

A better phrase would be "old and rundown". Des Moines doesn't have a large enough black population to have a ghetto in the American sense.

The meth-infested (also old and rundown) east and north sides of town aren't exactly the reason Des Moines makes these lists. Those parts of town are ignored. Not all of the metro is family friendly. Some of you can't accept that, that's fine.

And you miss the elephant in the room. Namely ALL the cities that are in the running have similar areas. So if you have to continue harping on the ghetto bit, you really should realize that the ratings work in direct opposition to the way you think they do.

Get a clue, dude.