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Ask HN: How do I create a social movement to change the world?
HN: I am asking your advice on how to build a social movement to change society. What can you suggest to help me?
I'm deeply angry about a particular social issue and feel helpless. So what can I do? I've concluded the only thing I can do is try to create on online community and movement.
So I come here to my community Hacker News, where there is infinite skill and capability in building online community, campaigns and movements and I ask for help.
It seems to me that any social movement needs a catchy name, so I've created that (see below).
The next thing I have done is create a subreddit with the name of the social movement (again see below).
I also created a website a while back, although does not use the catchy name I created, so it needs updating (again, see below).
But really the things I've done above are just guesses. I have no idea how to create a social movement and change the world.
Thanks!
I have the subject matter below, to avoid this post being seen as HN spam:
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The subject of the social movement:
The catchy name "Real Estate Rebellion".
The goal:
I want to end housing as a financial investment in Australia.
The issue:
I'm deeply angry about what has happened with house prices in Australia.
Ordinary people - teachers, nurses, public servants will never be able to buy a house in Australia. In fact even well paid people who don't currently own will never be able to buy a house. It wasn't like this before. In Australia, some people own multiple houses, 1/2/3/4 or more and others own none - society has been split into renters and landlords. The politicians all own multiple houses and dare not say a single word against raging house prices.
I want to end housing as a financial investment in Australia. I know this is a deeply radical idea but I think it's valid - why should housing be a financial instrument? Let's end the house prices ponzi scheme.
The subreddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/realestaterebellion/
The website:
https://site-153316-2260-6863.mystrikingly.com/
Here's what the (unattainable) end goal of a successful grass roots campaign would look like to me:
1: end foreign ownership of residential real estate, close the markets to non-residents. It's obvious isn't it? Selling our houses to overseas buyers is reducing the supply and driving up prices. Time to end all foreign ownership of Australian residential real estate. Existing foreign owners will get 4 years to sell currently owned properties. Only citizens and people holding permanent resident visa will be permitted to buy residential property. Companies may only own new residential property that is in the process of being sold to individuals.
2: end negative gearing entirely. "Negative gearing" is an Australian tax policy which effectively pays government money to people who buy multiple houses. It is simply giving money to property investors and worsening the problem. Negative gearing to be unconditionally eliminated.
3: Heavy extra taxes for "Monopoly" property hoarders. The government rewards people who "Monopoly hoard" residential properties. Instead of paying money to monopoly hoarders, we will introduce new taxes to discourage accumulating portfolios of residential properties. Call it "positive gearing" if you want.
4: There's no reason for a family to own more than two houses.
5: Active, direct government financial co-ownership support to help anyone who wants to buy a house.
- sys_64738 5y agoWill you still feel the same when you can afford a house? Is this about you because you can't afford a home or a cause you're willing to spend every dime you own to support?
- bradwood 5y agoThe rebellion already exists, it's called Bitcoin. Flagrant asset inflation (especially of real-estate, but also other assets) is caused, by-and-large, by central bank money-printing and asset inflation (not to be confused with regular consumer price inflation). You can fight this by buying bitcoin and encouraging others to do the same.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- throwaway19937 5y agoHave you read Game of Mates(https://gameofmates.com/ https://gameofmates.com/)? It discusses crony capitalism in Australia and has some concrete policy recommendations. If you're looking for other references on activism the Radical Book Club (https://status451.com/tag/radical-book-club/ https://status451.com/tag/radical-book-club/) series of blog posts has detailed book reviews and recommendations. It's targeted at right-wing readers but the advice applies regardless of your views.
- codingdave 5y agoIf you really want to change the world, your online community is just one piece of the puzzle. It has to drive actual action - for example, regulatory and policy change within your government, campaigns to contact politicians, etc. If something IRL does not follow from the online community, you end up just being a loud vocal online presence... and nothing changes. By all means, start a community... but have a call to action to go with it.
- andrewstuart 5y agoI feel like I am at the stage of creating an "MVP for a social movement". i.e. trying to work out if this is something that people want, if this is a topic people care about. Presumably if I am alone in my passion for the subject then no-one will ever comment/reply/email/express their agreement. If however lots of people start to agree, to put their hands up and say they feel the same, then I can take a next step which is I'm guessing to do what you say which is to define a call to action - but what would that be, can you suggest?