Residents Cheer John Mellencamp's New Song for Portland: 'Land of Plenty Where Nothing Gets Done'

Looking at American cities over the last few years, evidence suggests a connection between progressive Democratic rule and ruinous increases in urban blight. One of the most notorious American hotbeds of chaos and decay is Portland, Oregon. Up until a few years ago, Portland had a reputation as a gentle hippie and hipster hangout, as depicted in the skit comedy show “Portlandia.” Now, like many other Democrat-run cities, Portland is dissolving into a morass of out-of-control homeless encampments, drugs and violence. The turn in the city’s fortunes caught the attention...