Banana Wealth (Miami, Fisher Island: credit, houses, school)

[Marlin331]

I think you should try to get an FIU professor to sponsor your thesis on "Banana Wealth." Who knows, Middle America might like your thesis. Besides, you'll have to use plenty of "elitist" terms like "mutually exclusive" when you write your book! Haha!!

[MiamiVice1985]

Originally Posted by Miami Vice

Who cares if he hasn't learned? That's his problem. Maybe he has been working two full-time jobs just to get by and gets home exhausted. Is he hurting anyone other than himself? Luckily for him, he lives in a place where there are tons of people who speak spanish and are bilingual.

That's so sweet... everybody living in harmony....AWWW





Multiply this guy by half a million an you have the true percentage of people who can't speak English in this county. (1 in 5)

[MiamiVice1985]

Things to look for when assessing Banana Wealth:

-Great numbers of local immigrant population who wear Tony Montana t-shirts.

-Abundance of calling cards in gas stations.

-Concrete and block walls with large steel gates that surround single family homes, not neighborhoods or private golf course communities. We're not talking white picket fences here...

-People who have been in the U.S. more than 10 years and cannot speak any English. Many in Miami have been here for 20 years and can't speak English. Many, 40+ years.

-Neighborhoods, not buildings, that exist simply because of section 8.

-What are so many Bentleys and AMG series Mercedes doing in a place like Sweetwater?

-Western Unions, bail bond agencies, currency exchanges, cheap bridal botiques...

-Phony post secondary education schools such as Carlos Albizu University where sole purpose is to increase the education of the local non-English fluent population.

-Intersections with multiple dollar pickers/beggars. Example - Homeless man with cardboard sign, Pedro selling camarones (shrimp), someone else selling onions, and a shriner with a change cup all in one intersection.

-Don Pan "bread restaurants". What are they good for??? They are only in Miami...

-Million dollar mansions built within a block of destitute poverty.

-High frequency of people who "look" like they can't afford the car they are driving.

-Vehicles that are worth less than their own rims and/or sound system. See: Opa Locka.

-Public streets that are blocked due to the extreme wealth of those who live behind the gates. Only in areas of Banana Wealth can the rich "buy" the public right of way. See: Palm, Hibiscus and Star Islands, Sans Souci Estates, Deering Bay. Fisher Island is exempt because it is privately owned.

[StoneOne]

Originally Posted by MiamiVice1985

Things to look for when assessing Banana Wealth:

-Great numbers of local immigrant population who wear Tony Montana t-shirts.

-Abundance of calling cards in gas stations.

-Concrete and block walls with large steel gates that surround single family homes, not neighborhoods or private golf course communities. We're not talking white picket fences here...

-People who have been in the U.S. more than 10 years and cannot speak any English. Many in Miami have been here for 20 years and can't speak English. Many, 40+ years.

-Neighborhoods, not buildings, that exist simply because of section 8.

-What are so many Bentleys and AMG series Mercedes doing in a place like Sweetwater?

-Western Unions, bail bond agencies, currency exchanges, cheap bridal botiques...

-Phony post secondary education schools such as Carlos Albizu University where sole purpose is to increase the education of the local non-English fluent population.

-Intersections with multiple dollar pickers/beggars. Example - Homeless man with cardboard sign, Pedro selling camarones (shrimp), someone else selling onions, and a shriner with a change cup all in one intersection.

-Don Pan "bread restaurants". What are they good for??? They are only in Miami...

-Million dollar mansions built within a block of destitute poverty.

-High frequency of people who "look" like they can't afford the car they are driving.

-Vehicles that are worth less than their own rims and/or sound system. See: Opa Locka.

-Public streets that are blocked due to the extreme wealth of those who live behind the gates. Only in areas of Banana Wealth can the rich "buy" the public right of way. See: Palm, Hibiscus and Star Islands. Fisher Island is exempt because it is privately owned

We have a lot of this stuff in North Carolina as well - the promised land for Florida malcontents (and malcontents from elsewhere). Does your Banana Wealth thesis apply to Durham, which has lots of poor neighborhoods populated by blacks and Hispanics, and some really very exclusive neighborhoods where, gasp, there are a few wealthy Hispanics? Plenty of people who don't know English too well in Durham, by the way - and elsewhere in NC.

I really don't see your point.

[compelled to reply]

Guys, please ignore this clown. I think he has had his fun.

[MiamiVice1985]

Originally Posted by StoneOne

We have a lot of this stuff in North Carolina as well - the promised land for Florida malcontents (and malcontents from elsewhere). Does your Banana Wealth thesis apply to Durham, which has lots of poor neighborhoods populated by blacks and Hispanics, and some really very exclusive neighborhoods where, gasp, there are a few wealthy Hispanics? Plenty of people who don't know English too well in Durham, by the way - and elsewhere in NC.

I really don't see your point.

Durham...
Estimated median household income in 2005: $42,321
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $157,100

Miami...
Estimated median household income in 2005: $25,211
Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $248,500

Nope, there's way more disparity in Miami. So no, I would have to change my thesis to fit Durham.

I don't know about Spanish in Durham, but I would assume that that the Hispanic influence there is primarily Mexican. City-data.com stated an 8.6% Hispanic percentage of the population, compared to 60+ percent in Miami. I would have to believe that you are misguided as the facts don't support your argument.

[MiamiVice1985]

Clown ; - ) >>>>>>>>>> Hahahaha you just made my day.

[TannerMan]

Originally Posted by MiamiVice1985

Things to look for when assessing Banana Wealth:

-Great numbers of local immigrant population who wear Tony Montana t-shirts.

-Abundance of calling cards in gas stations.

-Concrete and block walls with large steel gates that surround single family homes, not neighborhoods or private golf course communities. We're not talking white picket fences here...

-People who have been in the U.S. more than 10 years and cannot speak any English. Many in Miami have been here for 20 years and can't speak English. Many, 40+ years.

-Neighborhoods, not buildings, that exist simply because of section 8.

-What are so many Bentleys and AMG series Mercedes doing in a place like Sweetwater?

-Western Unions, bail bond agencies, currency exchanges, cheap bridal botiques...

-Phony post secondary education schools such as Carlos Albizu University where sole purpose is to increase the education of the local non-English fluent population.

-Intersections with multiple dollar pickers/beggars. Example - Homeless man with cardboard sign, Pedro selling camarones (shrimp), someone else selling onions, and a shriner with a change cup all in one intersection.

-Don Pan "bread restaurants". What are they good for??? They are only in Miami...

-Million dollar mansions built within a block of destitute poverty.

-High frequency of people who "look" like they can't afford the car they are driving.

-Vehicles that are worth less than their own rims and/or sound system. See: Opa Locka.

-Public streets that are blocked due to the extreme wealth of those who live behind the gates. Only in areas of Banana Wealth can the rich "buy" the public right of way. See: Palm, Hibiscus and Star Islands, Sans Souci Estates, Deering Bay. Fisher Island is exempt because it is privately owned.

You pretty much described countless other cities. You should probaly get out more. Only one that probaly is only in Miami but seems more ridiculous than the rest is the Don Pan one, seriously wtf is wrong with a local bakery chain?!? jeez! And I haven't noticed the Tony Montana shirts.

[jbravo]

Originally Posted by MiamiVice1985

"Banana Wealth" = Income disparity brought on by a nonexistent middle class, a greed-oriented business acumen, an absence of regulatory oversight, and an overabundance of entrepreneurial immigrants.

A derivative of Banana Republic, which originated nearly 100 years ago to decribe Hunduras. Has anybody thought of this euphemism to depict the economic, social and political situation in Miami or am I the first bloke to coin this term?

No, you are the first Moderator cut: .. to come up with that one.

[MiamiVice1985]

I pretty much figured that I was the first. I told a buddy of mine who goes to the Universtiy of Chicago about Banana Wealth; he's trying to build up my thesis over there. I can't wait!