I'm amazed that the big blue cities somehow manage to stay afloat

They still know how to make and raise a lot of money, even though they're crazy.

I wonder too, and I live in a blue state, although, it's really only blue in the big city, and then a few smaller cities surrounding it. Fortunately I live in a red mostly rural county.

My dentist and I got to talking about why I lost my last dentist and moved to his practice; well, she was close to retirement and got tired of getting stiffed.

I told him she told me she was waiting over a year (and this was probably 2 years ago) for payments owed by state employees (the insurance, not the employee's portion) and his eyes widened and he said, well she did better than me, I've got bills pending for over two years!!

That's how they are making it, they aren't paying vendors on time, and borrow, borrow, borrow, and seek funds from the Feds. They are also actively relocating their welfare populations into the wealthier (productive) counties, so the city isn't stuck with the tab.

Rant off :)