Flint, MichiganA strong culture is one that depends on itself along with external resources. The economy is difficult, if not impossible, to predict, and that puts a strain on a community that depends on a single employer. Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Flint are examples of this type of community. When a manufacturing process or company withdraws from a city, many problems arise. Flint is a city that has had a significant portion of industrial furlough. GM was the heart of Flint until the decision was made to downsize. This caused approximately 40,000 of GM's 80,000 employees to lose their jobs. Recently there was a debate comparing two sides of an issue. The issue was the decline of General Motors in Flint. Is it a catastrophe or does it provide an opportunity for the community. Committee members included Bill Donahue (pro-opportunity), Larry Thompson (pro-opportunity), Dorothy Reynolds (catastrophe advocate), and Ruben Burks (catastrophe advocate). There were many advantages to having GM as the dominant employer in Flint early on. . The amount of GM jobs in Flint spurred an economic boom in the city in the 1960s and 1970s. General Motors money flowed from workers to every sector of Genesse County's economy. The population was increasing, which meant more homes, roads and businesses. It was all too good to be true. When Roger Smith (then president of GM) decided to move numerous jobs out of Buick City, it was time for Flint to pay the piper. Large dependence on GM caused a rapid economic decline unprecedented in any city in U.S. history. The removal of jobs from GM caused many problems in Flint. DororthyReynolds provided many statistics showing how much GM's decline has hurt Flint. He pointed out that since the removal of GM jobs, Flint has become the second most dangerous city in America despite being the sixth most segregated. The lack of economic development since the early 1980s has also had a terrible impact on the children of Flint and Genesse County. Thirty percent of Genesse County children live at or below the poverty level, where the school graduation rate has dropped to 57%. Ms Reynolds also highlighted the fact that only three new housing projects have started in the last 18 months. RubenBurks was also invited to share his views on the catastrophe that struck Flint. Unfortunately for the public, his relationship with United AutoWorkers was at such a level that he could not expand on his negative opinions of GM.