The German magazine Spiegel dispatched a correspondent to Pennsylvania to cover the race for the American presidency. The good news is that the global press is paying more attention to the urgent issues in the greater Great Lakes region. The bad news is that the global press is paying more attention to the urgent issues in the greater Great Lakes region. Here's an excerpt from yesterday's report:
"Pennsylvania, like Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois, was once one of the country's industrial powerhouse states. But today, the landscape in cities like Reading is no longer shaped by factories, but by discount chains like Wal-Mart and a generous smattering of fast-food outlets. The city's crowded row-house neighborhoods look run-down - with well-paying jobs a rarity, many homeowners cannot afford repairs and upkeep. Reading is one of America's losers."
