Detroit, Mi: Water water everywhere but not a drop to drink

(aka, the problem of capital versus operational funding)

The two buildings on the block are both Cass Technical High School - in the foreground the newly built school building, in the background the abandoned one with windows shattered and blinds and blackboards slowly falling from the walls where they were left. At the same time Detroit is shutting down schools and struggling to pay for critical programs because of major funding shortages, they are building many (roughly 20?) new schools. Similarly, they are laying out billions of dollars for a new light rail line while they are cutting bus service all over the City and only a year ago almost cut weekend bus service entirely, a lifeline service for many who work on the weekends. We too easily will outlay huge amounts for new things (capital funding) when we can barely afford (or can't) to keep up those we already have (operational funding). Interesting institutional/governmental parallel to our consumer spending habits?