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I think the answer is that they can decide all of the things that you're saying here, and they can lobby to have the government enforce those decisions, because

I think the answer is that they can decide all of the things that you're saying here, and they can lobby to have the government enforce those decisions, because people are allowed to do lobby the government to do whatever they want. The argument against NIMBYs isn't that they're doing something illegal, it's that they're doing something that's selfish and bad for society as a whole. The difference between wanting denser residential zoning and wanting to build McMansions on French villages is that one has clear benefits for large numbers of people and the other very much does not. And while we shouldn't always do the thing that benefits more people - that's how you end up with oppression of minorities - the fact that people are upset with those who are doing a thing that is inherently self-serving at the expense of others doesn't seems reasonable.

bluefirebrand 4y ago
> one has clear benefits for large numbers of people and the other very much does not. Why does it benefit large numbers of others to have denser housing right here where my house is though? There is plenty of room in the world to build denser housing for them elsewhere, while I can still have what I want. Win-Win > the fact that people are upset with those who are doing a thing that is inherently self-serving at the expense of others doesn't seems reasonable. What expense of others? Go live somewhere else. There are plenty of dense housing options that aren't here where my house is.
- awillen 4y ago
  > Why does it benefit large numbers of others to have denser housing right here where my house is though? It benefits large numbers of others to have denser housing in any highly populated area, particularly those that are desirable. If your house is in an area that can be described that way, then that's the reason it benefits large numbers of others to build denser housing right where your house is. The problem is, obviously, when everyone adopts the same attitude you have. Then there's no "somewhere else" to build. And hey, just like you're absolutely allowed to try to get the government to keep your area zoned as it is, others can try to get the government to loosen zoning. You don't have to like it, but they're doing the exact same thing you are - using the same processes to achieve something that's favorable to them.

bluefirebrand 4y ago

> one has clear benefits for large numbers of people and the other very much does not. Why does it benefit large numbers of others to have denser housing right here where my house is though? There is plenty of room in the world to build denser housing for them elsewhere, while I can still have what I want. Win-Win > the fact that people are upset with those who are doing a thing that is inherently self-serving at the expense of others doesn't seems reasonable. What expense of others? Go live somewhere else. There are plenty of dense housing options that aren't here where my house is.

awillen 4y ago
> Why does it benefit large numbers of others to have denser housing right here where my house is though? It benefits large numbers of others to have denser housing in any highly populated area, particularly those that are desirable. If your house is in an area that can be described that way, then that's the reason it benefits large numbers of others to build denser housing right where your house is. The problem is, obviously, when everyone adopts the same attitude you have. Then there's no "somewhere else" to build. And hey, just like you're absolutely allowed to try to get the government to keep your area zoned as it is, others can try to get the government to loosen zoning. You don't have to like it, but they're doing the exact same thing you are - using the same processes to achieve something that's favorable to them.