From: Brian Atkins <brian@posthuman.com>
Reply-To: extropians@extropy.org
To: extropians@extropy.org
Subject: Re: Homeless
Date: Sat, 09 Sep 2000 13:30:26 -0400
Hey Spike is it true that the shortage of housing there is really caused
by anti-growth laws that prevent a lot of development? I just don't
understand
why on one hand you've got a housing shortage, and on the other hand there
aren't buttloads of high rise condos going up? It seems awfully artificial.
Why when you try to push a car uphill does it go nowhere? The need is there,
but net forces prevail.
There is a demand for housing, and there are people with some money who want
housing. That would certainly be to their benefit to buy real estaet, but
when they win, others lose. Who? Those who already are house owners would
lose. Now their commodity is less valuable.
Wealth is relative, in many ways.
60% of American householders own their own homes. A significant % of
Americans (20%? 30%?) would like to own a home but may not be able to afford
what they want under *current*market*conditions*.
60% > 30%! Game over man, game over.
There are, of course, other factors, but I see this as the main dynamic.
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