To an outside observer San Francisco is turning into another Detroit.
That seems an inaccurate comparison. Detroit grew large when a particular family of industries was briefly globally dominant. San Francisco has a history of reinvention and has largely developed around major universities, UC Berkeley and Stanford in particular. Compared to the University of Detroit Mercy and Wayne State University (no relation to the Batman), the Bay Area has a history of strong intellectual influence and leadership.
The economy is not working for people. I see a young couple walkout with goods from the store without paying. I am sure they would pay had they the means to.
Why? I don’t want to pay for anything, if i don’t have to why would i?