> Very interesting conversation Donald and Tom. I think it is getting to
> issues that are too often ignored.
Thanks!
> Donald wrote:
> What you are doing is slipping in, as assumed, the argument
> that the city will be so inefficient in its property owning efforts that the
> costs will out weigh the costs to individuals of the laise-faire approach.
> This can be argued but you should do it openly.
Agreed. I am arguing, ultimately, for a modified free market approach,
which may account for the confusion. I do believe in the so called
"mixed economy," where government has a major role -- I am not an
advocate of strict laise-faire economics. However, I also think we need
to realize that the city's abilities here are very limited. We can --
and, as I have argued, should -- build subsidised housing for the poor
and limited groups like artists. However, we should recognize that
housing costs a lot of money and the city can only build so much; thus,
I do not think that any kind of blanket subsidy can do anything but
bankrupt the city, either by spending more than we raise in taxes or by
forcing would-be tax-paying home owners out of the city. Thus, it won't
significantly increase the housing stock, so the price of that stock
won't go down. Also, I think that it is fair to note that public
housing in this city, and in the country and most of the world, has a
very poor history. Generally, it has failed to provide either adequate
housing or to move people out of poverty. Therefore, we should be very
careful about how we apply our limited ability to subsidise housing, and
make sure it goes to those most in need and / or those whom it will most
help. That (and the related issues of the economic value of increased
density in the inner city) is where I disagree with Tom.
-- Donald
_________________________
Donald F. Robertson
San Francisco
donaldrf@hooked.net
Donald's Space Exploration page:
http://www.hooked.net/~donaldrf/index.html
The known is finite, the unknown is infinite; intellectually
we stand on an islet in the midst of an illimitable ocean of
inexplicability. Our business in every generation is to
reclaim a little more land. -- Thomas Huxley.