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The state can invest billions of dollars into affordable housing, and simultaneously allow private developers to invest billions of their own dollars to meet de

The state can invest billions of dollars into affordable housing, and simultaneously allow private developers to invest billions of their own dollars to meet demand from people at the top. Impeding the latter does nothing to help the former.

Wolfenstein98k 5y ago
Where do the extra billions come from?
- epistasis 5y ago
  If people's rent went to producing more housing and paying for the labor and materials of that housing, and we simultaneously invested in the trades to make sure there was consistent and good pay and that there was enough labor, there would be more than enough money. If we try to take money from income taxes, it won't work. We need to stop transferring wealth to unproductive rentiers (landlords), and instead transfer it to labor which will produce what we need. The reason this doesn't happen is that the rentiers control the zoning boards.
- baby 5y ago
  Can we pay more taxes please? I’m serious.
  - CamperBob2 5y ago
    Yes, in many jurisdictions voluntary contributions are accepted. I assume you've already explored this option?
    - baby 5y ago
      I am not interested as I don’t think voluntary contributions can change anything. This argument goes both ways: why not lowering taxes since people can just donate instead? The next thing you know you don’t have hospitals, roads, police, firemen, army, education, healthcare, oops
      - refurb 5y ago
        The relevant phrase is “put your money where your mouth is”.
        baby 5y ago
        Yes, which is in funding organizations and movements that aim at educating people (like you) about the benefits of social programs and taxes.
  - AdrianB1 5y ago
    It will be very difficult when total tax rate reaches 100%. It is already over 60-70% in some places, so people's lives are managed more by the government than by themselves, but when you reach 100% and the disposable income gets to be 0 it is hard to extract more tax. Also: if you are willing to pay more taxes don't even consider forcing others to do the same, that is rude.

Wolfenstein98k 5y ago

Where do the extra billions come from?

epistasis 5y ago
If people's rent went to producing more housing and paying for the labor and materials of that housing, and we simultaneously invested in the trades to make sure there was consistent and good pay and that there was enough labor, there would be more than enough money. If we try to take money from income taxes, it won't work. We need to stop transferring wealth to unproductive rentiers (landlords), and instead transfer it to labor which will produce what we need. The reason this doesn't happen is that the rentiers control the zoning boards.
baby 5y ago
Can we pay more taxes please? I’m serious.
- CamperBob2 5y ago
  Yes, in many jurisdictions voluntary contributions are accepted. I assume you've already explored this option?
  - baby 5y ago
    I am not interested as I don’t think voluntary contributions can change anything. This argument goes both ways: why not lowering taxes since people can just donate instead? The next thing you know you don’t have hospitals, roads, police, firemen, army, education, healthcare, oops
    - refurb 5y ago
      The relevant phrase is “put your money where your mouth is”.
      - baby 5y ago
        Yes, which is in funding organizations and movements that aim at educating people (like you) about the benefits of social programs and taxes.
- AdrianB1 5y ago
  It will be very difficult when total tax rate reaches 100%. It is already over 60-70% in some places, so people's lives are managed more by the government than by themselves, but when you reach 100% and the disposable income gets to be 0 it is hard to extract more tax. Also: if you are willing to pay more taxes don't even consider forcing others to do the same, that is rude.