“Vegas is America. No matter what you read about Vegas, no matter where you read it, this assertion invariably pops up, as sure as a face card in the hole when the dealer’s showing an ace. Vegas is unlike any other American city, and yet Vegas is America? Paradoxical, yes, but true. And it’s never been more true than during these past few years. Vegas typified the American boom—best suite at the Palms: $40,000 a night—and Vegas now epitomizes the bust. If the boom was largely caused by the housing bubble, Vegas was bubble-icious. It should be no surprise, therefore, that the Vegas area leads the United States in foreclosures—five times the national rate—and ranks among the worst cities for unemployment. More than 14 percent of Las Vegans are without work, compared with the national rate of 9.5 percent.”—J.D. Moehringer, “Las Vegas: An American Paradox,” Smithsonian Magazine, October 2010Many of my work colleagues, now out in Sin City for our annual convention, will relate to this piece—which, judging by a number of reader comments on Smithsonian’s Web site, has a lot of Las Vegas residents in a real snit.
As someone who has visited Las Vegas several times over the years, I found myself continually agreeing with J.D. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has gone on to write a fine memoir of his own (The Tender Bar) as well as to collaborate with Andre Agassiz on his. But judge for yourself. I think you'll enjoy his dry wit and sharp eye for detail.
As someone who has visited Las Vegas several times over the years, I found myself continually agreeing with J.D. Moehringer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has gone on to write a fine memoir of his own (The Tender Bar) as well as to collaborate with Andre Agassiz on his. But judge for yourself. I think you'll enjoy his dry wit and sharp eye for detail.
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