I agree with you that the roots of the housing crisis lie in our social/economic/political systems. You are so right about the lack of a social safety net. Also about health care: both it and housing are basic needs that have been commodified for profit and that's a terrible contradiction. But IMO we need to also be aware of how homeowne…
I agree with you that the roots of the housing crisis lie in our social/economic/political systems. You are so right about the lack of a social safety net. Also about health care: both it and housing are basic needs that have been commodified for profit and that's a terrible contradiction. But IMO we need to also be aware of how homeownership has been positioned culturally as an index of prosperity and the ultimate sign of success in capitalist terms. Political change and climate crisis have created a moment where that myth is coming undone for a generation which had the perfectly acceptable expectations of ultimately being better off than their parents. It's a very difficult and complex moment -- of disappointment, resentment, and fear among people of all ages. Also of a healthy questioning of capitalism how its processes are breaking down. I don't think we can build our way out of this one.
Agree on all and what your note further made me think of is that we can't WATER our way out of it. Artucle in the NYT this weekend about Phoenix building desalination in Mexico. We need so much infrastructure so badly...
I agree with you that the roots of the housing crisis lie in our social/economic/political systems. You are so right about the lack of a social safety net. Also about health care: both it and housing are basic needs that have been commodified for profit and that's a terrible contradiction. But IMO we need to also be aware of how homeownership has been positioned culturally as an index of prosperity and the ultimate sign of success in capitalist terms. Political change and climate crisis have created a moment where that myth is coming undone for a generation which had the perfectly acceptable expectations of ultimately being better off than their parents. It's a very difficult and complex moment -- of disappointment, resentment, and fear among people of all ages. Also of a healthy questioning of capitalism how its processes are breaking down. I don't think we can build our way out of this one.
Agree on all and what your note further made me think of is that we can't WATER our way out of it. Artucle in the NYT this weekend about Phoenix building desalination in Mexico. We need so much infrastructure so badly...
Absolutely. Water is already shaping up to be the next crisis.