Hacker News Reader

Comment by IndoorPatio | Hacker News Reader

No one is suggesting the removal of rent. The solution for a higher quality of life for all involved is public housing. This is a problem that Vienna has solved.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/magazine/vienna-social-ho...

View on HN

I agree that public housing is a very good solution. However most countries have not succeeded I providing this and until that happens villifying private landlords is not helpful.

By all means advocate for social housing, an general easing of restrictions to new housing development. I'm right behind you in that.

Vilifying private landlords is helpful in advocating for public housing and denouncing Rentier Capitalism. Rather than seeking to live off the wages of others, people are better served by earning a wage themselves.

The essence of capitalism is that capital can be used to produce income. Rent, and specifically residential property rent are a tiny fraction of that.

Why it's possible to highlight the negative effects of capitalism in general, I feel like that's a "boil the ocean" problem.

The root of the housing issue is supply. It doesn't matter who owns the accommodation - there's a shortage of it - and that's driving prices up.

I more useful strategy IMO is to look at policies that would encourage all levels (private and govt) to develop more housing and increase the supply.

The shortage you mention, do you think it would exist or exist in as significant a degree if landlords were not buying properties they have no intention of occupying?

Under capitalism there's an incentive to manufacture a shortage to drive prices up. That's why Vienna has such a higher quality of life than anywhere in the US: robust public housing which does not have such a detrimental incentive.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/23/vienna-reclaim...

Reply on news.ycombinator.com