Comments on: How to make a free market a tool of oppression http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/ See all evil, hear all evil, fight all evil Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:48:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Jennifer Kesler http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-917 Jennifer Kesler Wed, 07 May 2008 05:29:06 +0000 http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-917 <i>So, they’re upside down in their mortgages, and if they sold their houses for what they’re currently worth, they’d take massive financial hits (to the tune of maybe $50K or more in some cases).</i> Back in the mid-90's, I knew a woman who took a loss of $100k on a house here, and I'm not sure she was that unusual. At the risk of sounding callous to homeowners, I'm hopeful we'll see corrections like that again soon - not because I want homeowners to suffer, but because in a market that goes so insanely up and down as L.A. does instead of regulating for steady growth, that's the only chance in hell for people like me to get in the game. Gentrification is so frustrating. I think it COULD be done in a way that would be a win-win for everyone, but it always seems to shaft the poor. I followed your link back to your blog and commented more there. Forgot to mention HELL YEAH on the whole Southern accent thing. I grew up in the South among a lot of nasty rednecks (East TN) and I hated them and couldn't wait to leave. But I sure came away with an awareness of just how casually our whole culture dismisses people just because something marks them as "Southern" - they're sort of objectified, like the weird relative in the attic everyone chuckles uncomfortably about. And that's not fair because there's as much variety and potential among Southerners as any other slice of humanity. So, they’re upside down in their mortgages, and if they sold their houses for what they’re currently worth, they’d take massive financial hits (to the tune of maybe $50K or more in some cases).

Back in the mid-90’s, I knew a woman who took a loss of $100k on a house here, and I’m not sure she was that unusual. At the risk of sounding callous to homeowners, I’m hopeful we’ll see corrections like that again soon - not because I want homeowners to suffer, but because in a market that goes so insanely up and down as L.A. does instead of regulating for steady growth, that’s the only chance in hell for people like me to get in the game.

Gentrification is so frustrating. I think it COULD be done in a way that would be a win-win for everyone, but it always seems to shaft the poor.

I followed your link back to your blog and commented more there. Forgot to mention HELL YEAH on the whole Southern accent thing. I grew up in the South among a lot of nasty rednecks (East TN) and I hated them and couldn’t wait to leave. But I sure came away with an awareness of just how casually our whole culture dismisses people just because something marks them as “Southern” - they’re sort of objectified, like the weird relative in the attic everyone chuckles uncomfortably about. And that’s not fair because there’s as much variety and potential among Southerners as any other slice of humanity.

]]> By: Blanche Debris http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-916 Blanche Debris Wed, 07 May 2008 00:00:31 +0000 http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-916 And, oh, I think the market is *still* somewhat overpriced. Here in my city of Atlanta, upper-middle-class whites have been moving into the "slums" for cheaper housing prices and shorter commutes, thereby gentrifying them and making rents rise, causing much uproar among advocates for the poor when the rents for the poor increase and *they* can no longer afford to live there. It's kind of a damned-if-you-do-or-don't scenario. Here's a couple of interesting sites on the topic ... http://www.angryrenters.com/ http://www.writingshop.ws/html/perfect_storm.html And, oh, I think the market is *still* somewhat overpriced. Here in my city of Atlanta, upper-middle-class whites have been moving into the “slums” for cheaper housing prices and shorter commutes, thereby gentrifying them and making rents rise, causing much uproar among advocates for the poor when the rents for the poor increase and *they* can no longer afford to live there. It’s kind of a damned-if-you-do-or-don’t scenario.

Here’s a couple of interesting sites on the topic …
http://www.angryrenters.com/
http://www.writingshop.ws/html/perfect_storm.html

]]> By: Blanche Debris http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-915 Blanche Debris Tue, 06 May 2008 23:25:20 +0000 http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-915 Hey, I stumbled across your blog while looking up stuff on "white trash" and privilege. Nice stuff here. Most bloggers who discuss privilege throw in too much academic jargon for my taste, your style seems to be more direct and to the point. And yes, I agree, the housing market was overpriced, and that's why home prices are dropping -- to correct itself. This is bad for people who are unable to sell their homes right now, b/c they've taken out home equity loans, and their equity has evaporated due to homes declining in value. So, they're upside down in their mortgages, and if they sold their houses for what they're currently worth, they'd take massive financial hits (to the tune of maybe $50K or more in some cases). As far as rents rising, your rent hike sounds a bit extreme, but we're seeing inflation everywhere now. I blogged awhile back about some forms of privilege I have witnessed/experienced myself, if you'd like to take a look ... Mentally stable privilege is there, as well as non-Southern privilege and pretty privilege ... It's *not* very fleshed out, but the points are there ... http://debrisblanche.blogspot.com/2007/12/other-kinds-of-privilege.html Hey, I stumbled across your blog while looking up stuff on “white trash” and privilege. Nice stuff here. Most bloggers who discuss privilege throw in too much academic jargon for my taste, your style seems to be more direct and to the point.

And yes, I agree, the housing market was overpriced, and that’s why home prices are dropping — to correct itself. This is bad for people who are unable to sell their homes right now, b/c they’ve taken out home equity loans, and their equity has evaporated due to homes declining in value. So, they’re upside down in their mortgages, and if they sold their houses for what they’re currently worth, they’d take massive financial hits (to the tune of maybe $50K or more in some cases). As far as rents rising, your rent hike sounds a bit extreme, but we’re seeing inflation everywhere now.

I blogged awhile back about some forms of privilege I have witnessed/experienced myself, if you’d like to take a look … Mentally stable privilege is there, as well as non-Southern privilege and pretty privilege … It’s *not* very fleshed out, but the points are there …

http://debrisblanche.blogspot.com/2007/12/other-kinds-of-privilege.html

]]> By: Jennifer Kesler http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-903 Jennifer Kesler Fri, 02 May 2008 18:11:39 +0000 http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-903 I'm no expert, so that it all for what it's worth. I think here in L.A. the cost of housing is going to continue to decline through 2010. As it becomes affordable enough for people to buy again, the rents should come down. Experts can't predict what'll happen, so it's all a guess. But it seems to me things have been SO above market value for so long, we're bound to have an "overcorrection" during which things may actually fall below market value. Which will be both a renters' and buyers' market. I’m no expert, so that it all for what it’s worth. I think here in L.A. the cost of housing is going to continue to decline through 2010. As it becomes affordable enough for people to buy again, the rents should come down.

Experts can’t predict what’ll happen, so it’s all a guess. But it seems to me things have been SO above market value for so long, we’re bound to have an “overcorrection” during which things may actually fall below market value. Which will be both a renters’ and buyers’ market.

]]> By: Nenena http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-901 Nenena Fri, 02 May 2008 01:16:07 +0000 http://blindprivilege.com/how-to-make-a-free-market-a-tool-of-oppression/#comment-901 Wow, thanks for writing this. I'm living abroad right now but will have to return to the States next year, and finding affordable housing is the one thing that I'm *most* nervous about. Thanks for breaking down all of the issues involved, it helps me understand what's going on a lot better. Wow, thanks for writing this. I’m living abroad right now but will have to return to the States next year, and finding affordable housing is the one thing that I’m *most* nervous about. Thanks for breaking down all of the issues involved, it helps me understand what’s going on a lot better.

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