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The United States is too rich to be forced to deal with its parasites: bureaucrats and lawyers. Unfortunately, it will take a severe crisis before that tumorou
by baggy_trough 2y ago
The United States is too rich to be forced to deal with its parasites: bureaucrats and lawyers. Unfortunately, it will take a severe crisis before that tumorous mass can even begin to be chopped away.
- epistasis 2y agoPerhaps my view is too California-centric, but IMHO the biggest parasites are the rent seekers of homeowners and landlords. Those are the folks who benefit the most and who also control the process.
- datameta 2y agoIt boggles my mind that landlords gets to fully benefit from the completely externalized benefits from owning a building that without their efforts becomes a central location, or "pleasant" neighborhood, or a nightlife filled area, etс. And then still treat the housing market like some stock ticker to play with.
- robertlagrant 2y ago> Perhaps my view is too California-centric, but IMHO the biggest parasites are the rent seekers of homeowners and landlords. How are home owners "rent seekers"?
- epistasis 2y agoHome owners block new housing to drive up their home valuations, treating housing as an investment and pricing out an entire generation.
- robertlagrant 2y agoI think you're mistaking a small subset for the general set of home owners. The root cause of what you're talking about is demand is exceeding supply, by quite a long way. The population is growing - through various means - faster than homes are being created. That means a few home owners will do what you describe.
- KingMachiavelli 2y agoProp 13 means local municipalities need to extract higher fees and taxes on new construction compared to existing property. Higher development costs/prices cause dead weight loss and therefore block/reduce new development.
- horns4lyfe 2y agoAnd who do you think is their enforcement arm?
- Nasrudith 2y agoThe same "parasites" who are the ones who would own the goddamn expanded housing in the first place if it were to come to pass? Calling that view "California-centric" makes it sound like a stand-in for insults.
- kiba 2y agoAmerica is very rich because of its bureaucracy and its system of governance. It would be even richer if obstacles to good urban planning are identified and removed.
- baggy_trough 2y agoI really admire your optimism.