Landlords would be a net benefit if land were, for them, a liability rather than an asset. They would be paid for providing a service rather than monopolizing a

Landlords would be a net benefit if land were, for them, a liability rather than an asset. They would be paid for providing a service rather than monopolizing a natural resource. Roughly 60-80% of your rent is a tithe to the owner of a 4 billion year old chunk of dirt. Dirt made valuable by all of the humans surrounding it. People who provide valuable services like teaching, serving food, providing medicines, etc. People who get a 0% of your rent but who nonetheless will drive it up if they do their jobs really well.