Post AYXMiMvDlSmDbxnXyi by IronCurtain@mstdn.social
(DIR) More posts by IronCurtain@mstdn.social
(DIR) Post #AYXMhzIRbT5oL2TkqO by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-01T18:10:01Z
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#HarrysLastStand 2023 is a new gilded age where renters are in danger of becoming a permanent underclass.Today was rent day. If you are like me where over 50% of your income goes to keeping you housed-everyday feels like rent day. Keeping housed is as precarious as treading water in the North Atlantic after your ship sinks.Affordable housing is extinct in Britain, Western Europe, Canada and the USA for the average wage earner.https://open.substack.com/pub/jmsmith/p/2023-is-a-new-gilded-age-where-renters?r=12u3ju&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email#HarryLeslieSmith #JohnSmith
(DIR) Post #AYXMi0Mjd07RedUhAe by Npars01@mstdn.social
2023-08-01T18:22:10Z
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@bobjmsn We have private equity hedge funds, and Republican & Tory donors, like Blackrock, and lax regulations & oversight, to thank for the housing affordability crisis.Housing insecurity is so politically useful. It's killed urban neighborhoods across the nation, undermined the delivery of public services, & destabilized voting districts.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/magazine/wall-street-landlords.htmlhttps://slate.com/business/2021/06/blackrock-invitation-houses-investment-firms-real-estate.htmlhttps://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/21/how-wall-street-bought-single-family-homes-and-put-them-up-for-rent.htmlhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invitation_Homeshttps://www.courthousenews.com/investment-firms-blamed-for-making-californias-housing-crisis-worse-but-is-it-earned/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/sep/29/blackstone-rebellion-how-one-country-worlds-biggest-commercial-landlord-denmark
(DIR) Post #AYXMi1EcOfDkLkhj9s by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-02T01:07:02Z
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@Npars01 @bobjmsn Oh that is so true. I get little documents in the mail all the time trying to offer me money to buy my house. Like they would do anything to buy my house and turn it into another rental. That's already happened to like a third of the houses in my neighborhood since I moved in.I couldn't even afford my house now. It's like doubled in value due to all this crap. How can people afford them now? They can't 😥
(DIR) Post #AYXMi26r90bd3y52hM by Npars01@mstdn.social
2023-08-02T11:53:17Z
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@antiproton @bobjmsn The commodification of housing is extremely bad public policy. Private equity bulk-purchased residential housing for over 2 decades, aided by Wall Street & the banking industryThe process hid a flight of capital out of repressive regimes like China and laundered money for kleptocrats from despotic ones like Russia, Saudi Arabia or narco statesIt's created a looming national security risk. What happens if these foreign hedge funds decide to default on their mortgages?
(DIR) Post #AYXMi2reL22JP5yPdQ by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-02T14:53:13Z
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@Npars01 @bobjmsn Oh there are a million problems.In my neighborhood, it now costs over two times my mortgage to rent one of these houses. That means my neighbors are paying twice what I'm paying and I'm owning a house and they're not. That is an incredible amount of inequality.I just am shocked by how we've let this happen, and it's happening continuously and nobody's doing anything really to stop it
(DIR) Post #AYXMi3W3umMXQQsgcq by PabloMartini@climatejustice.rocks
2023-08-04T19:59:09Z
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@antiproton @Npars01 @bobjmsn Twas the same when we started! Couldn't afford it signed up for a council place, no go! had CASH but no secure way to PROVE I could keep a mortgage going!I changed jobs different career but we saved scrimped & managed to sort the mortgage! Hard times, we had hard times but stuck with it! Paid off the mortgage early now we are free and people say we are lucky! nah no luck we worked for it! So did you!
(DIR) Post #AYXMi4K2uwLRvSGbXE by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-04T21:52:14Z
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@PabloMartini @Npars01 @bobjmsn oh, I mean yeah I guess. I've certainly paid enough lol I just think it should be easier for others to get the same thing. And I'm sick of hearing about people who own hundreds of houses and charge exorbitant fees. They're just sucking people dry
(DIR) Post #AYXMi520HVVU7mpi3E by PabloMartini@climatejustice.rocks
2023-08-05T03:22:59Z
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@antiproton @Npars01 @bobjmsn sadly in the UK (same elsewhere?) We had many small mutual building societies, these were set up as a social need for the low paid for saving as opposed to a commercial bank, it was on a personal branch to member basis, it changed slowly untill the reign of Tory rules Thatcher! Where she trashed a 100+ year mutual lending system! There are few real mutuals left but they compete with the BIG 5 banks!
(DIR) Post #AYXMi5jxe4fWK7OoZE by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-05T04:31:25Z
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@PabloMartini @Npars01 @bobjmsn yeah, the conservatives definitely messed up UK. I mean they kind of do that everywhere though. They go around telling everybody to be afraid and that they have the cure, they get elected, and then they barbecue everything. Happened over here too many times
(DIR) Post #AYXMi6OjCVHKMYTN6u by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-05T11:34:48Z
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@antiproton @PabloMartini @Npars01 Conservatives are libertarians; they destroy society! Socialism builds society. In the UK we used to have alternating Conservative and Labour governments so there was a balancing mechanism. Tony Blair changed that by adopting Thatcherism, and Keir Starmer is following his lead. Democracy has been hijacked by the ultra rich through control of the media.
(DIR) Post #AYXMi76KaO9mXmsC4e by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-05T14:47:10Z
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@bobjmsn @PabloMartini @Npars01 That may be the case in UK, but in the United States, conservative does not equal libertarian. A libertarian usually just wants maximal freedoms. We do have a libertarian party but they are right-leaning liberal, whereas most of the socialism crowd in the US is left-leaning liberal. But I'm operating more off of the political science terms than their instantiations and politics which could be incorrect
(DIR) Post #AYXMi7l68olaaDwkcK by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-05T17:05:21Z
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@antiproton @PabloMartini @Npars01 I cannot presume to understand politics in the United States. I do understand that libertarians want maximal freedoms, but my problem with that is that I cannot see how I can have maximal freedom without removing freedom from everyone else. That in my understanding is fascism the moment I have the financial clout to buy public opinion through media ownership.
(DIR) Post #AYXMi8O5npxUXABtOi by Npars01@mstdn.social
2023-08-05T17:53:41Z
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@bobjmsn @antiproton @PabloMartini Libertarians are fascists in disguiseThey believe in "might makes right" coercive legal & political frameworks. They don't believe in democracyThey believe in feudalism, oligarchy, plutocracy, theocracy, & kleptocracy.A world of "special rules for special people"In other words, a dangerously unsustainable system of patronage, cronyism, & favoritism filled with murderous despots jockeying for power like Russia, Iran, & Saudi Arabia & inevitable war.
(DIR) Post #AYXMi93ZJd8Sbnb12u by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-05T18:34:47Z
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@Npars01 @bobjmsn @PabloMartini most of the progressive lefties in the US with technically categorize as left libertarian, but it's important to distinguish the political science term from the movement, libertarianism, or classical liberalism. Both of those are conservative and right-leaning. They can be fascist, but the primitive, analytical definition of libertarian is quite literally antitheses of fascism. It gets so damn murky because of the terminology 😵💫
(DIR) Post #AYXMi9koipjKlvpYSO by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-05T18:36:54Z
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@Npars01 @bobjmsn @PabloMartini So that's why I am not a fan of the United States libertarian party, classical liberals, or anything like that. Because they are really right-wing libertarian whereas I am left-wing libertarian. And you're correct that a lot of them honestly aren't really libertarian so much as fascists who want only personal libertarianismBut of course this gets into the confus ion synthetic knowledge lol It's murky when terms start floatung around lol
(DIR) Post #AYXMiAdlQXgNWLXR6O by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-05T18:45:07Z
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@antiproton @Npars01 @PabloMartini Thank you for trying to explain to me. I would genuinely like to understand US politics, but I think I am more confused than ever. It is difficult for someone from the UK to get their head around something even more basic, such as that Republicans are not conservative, and Democrats are not socialist; in fact socialist is something no one apparently wants to be described as!
(DIR) Post #AYXMiBIsxeZlZsmHCK by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-05T18:52:32Z
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@bobjmsn @Npars01 @PabloMartini well I don't think I would be fully qualified to explain it all to you as that's not my field of expertise and some of the things I say may not be entirely precise although I think they are lolI bet your biggest fun fact is that blue is kind of the left and red is kind of the right, which I think is opposite where you are. Except that our blue is actually more centrist in our red is far right actually lolA lot of it boils down again into definitions
(DIR) Post #AYXMiC3KAzirtuVMa8 by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-05T19:03:04Z
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@antiproton @Npars01 @PabloMartini You are confirming what I thought about blue and red, and yes they are the opposite in the UK. What really bemuses me about US politics is money. The country that proudly boasts that anyone can be president spends eye watering sums of money on election campaigns. My mailbox is full of begging emails for funding for this or the other politician. I believe that has been the case since the founding of the United States.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiCmhSI1EAdjbJA by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-05T19:23:01Z
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@bobjmsn @Npars01 @PabloMartini lol yeppersJust like how "anyone" has "access" to healthcare, but that doesn't mean they can afford it. I hace spent maybe $2000 this year on medical stuff and paid maybe 4000-5000 in insurance (mu employer has paid WAY more on my behalf.The USA is the Ferengi from DS9, incarnate lol
(DIR) Post #AYXMiDZyV5QydSmx72 by ipd@universeodon.com
2023-08-05T23:07:54Z
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@antiproton @bobjmsn @Npars01 @PabloMartini Please do not insult ferengi. They are much kinder than healthcare.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiEPjOepnDz0Hmi by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-06T00:40:58Z
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@ipd @bobjmsn @Npars01 @PabloMartini lol not so sure about that, but I cannot deny that you might be right lol
(DIR) Post #AYXMiF2j3g1hAvFQZ6 by ipd@universeodon.com
2023-08-06T09:01:52Z
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@antiproton @bobjmsn @Npars01 @PabloMartini At least with Ferengi, the costs are known up front and the most it can cost you is your money. With healthcare, you have to sign in to a clickthrough giving them a blank check for an unspecified price, give up the right to sue and you life, not the privider's, is on the line.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiFfiihDb7rUZLU by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-06T17:13:56Z
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@ipd @bobjmsn @Npars01 @PabloMartini yeah, that's definitely true. I lost everything once due to medical stuff. Took me a long time to get my finances restored. And I've almost died from American medical care. So I always laugh when people claim it's the best in the world lol
(DIR) Post #AYXMiGXbUMJtoyhbKi by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-06T17:27:14Z
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@antiproton @ipd @Npars01 @PabloMartini Can you imagine living in a country where medical consultation and treatment is free, and prescription medicines are free. It is all paid for from taxation so everyone contributes. That country is Scotland, where I live, and that is why I want independence from England where healthcare is being quietly privatised.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiHDmxW41voRI5Q by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-06T18:40:49Z
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@bobjmsn @ipd @Npars01 @PabloMartini Oh I love Scotland! I've been there many times and It's where much of my family comes from a million years ago. I went through the hospital in London when I was much younger, and it was much better than the US. And completely free. I heard it's going downhill 😥And what they do to transgender people is absolutely appalling. Making them wait for years for no reason. England is screwed up (So is my country)
(DIR) Post #AYXMiIJUtmDzJo7Mci by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-06T19:14:54Z
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@antiproton @ipd @Npars01 @PabloMartini The NHS in the UK is a fantastic institution, but it is being sold off to big private health providers. We are constantly being reassured that it will remain "free at the point of use" but we know that is a lie to permit the sell off, and one day everyone will be told that they have to pay for private health insurance, or use a basic, underfunded NHS that provides minimal treatment. Yes, transgender people are being treated appallingly everywhere.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiJ5i0WmzjKfrlo by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-06T19:52:39Z
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@bobjmsn @ipd @Npars01 @PabloMartini I just can't believe they would give up something so wonderful as free healthcare. Like, some of the people voting for that should come to America and experience the paid for version. It's absolute nightmare. Like you literally die because your insurance company won't pay.Had to quit my therapist because I just can't afford hundreds of dollars a month. My insurance barely covers any of it.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiJu2zN3UFSE4ES by TomSwirly@toot.community
2023-08-07T06:57:32Z
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@antiproton @bobjmsn @ipd @Npars01 @PabloMartini So sorry to hear that - what a rip-off.Right before I left the US, my COBRA health insurance would not cover a $20 x-ray for pneumonia. The $20 was not important, but the attitude was enraging.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiKlZmLsCvTGofQ by antiproton@mastodon.social
2023-08-07T07:13:54Z
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@TomSwirly @bobjmsn @ipd @Npars01 @PabloMartini yeah that's how it goes, sadly. Another annoying thing is that you going to a hospital, and they can't give you any upfront idea how much anything is going to be. It's just going to be whatever it is.I had to do a bankruptcy over medical debt. Can you imagine how absurd that is? I had so much medical debt that I would have never have been able to pay it off. It was just bonkers
(DIR) Post #AYXMiLTBAEkf6hfddA by bobjmsn@mastodon.scot
2023-08-07T16:12:16Z
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@antiproton @TomSwirly @ipd @Npars01 @PabloMartini So sorry to read this; bankruptcy has so many other knock-on effects, not least on mental health. It must leave you with a fear of illness, and perhaps a reluctance to engage with medical care in the future.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiMFOGzJfWEE8mG by Npars01@mstdn.social
2023-08-07T21:46:32Z
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@bobjmsn @antiproton @TomSwirly @ipd @PabloMartini Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the USA. Bankruptcy destroys credit ratings. Poor credit makes it difficult to get employment in certain jobs. Poor credit makes it difficult to get approval for a lease or rental agreement. It is a significant contributor to the homelessness crisis.So yes, in the USA, getting cancer treatments can make you homeless.
(DIR) Post #AYXMiMvDlSmDbxnXyi by IronCurtain@mstdn.social
2023-08-08T20:15:38Z
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@Npars01 @bobjmsn @antiproton @TomSwirly @ipd @PabloMartini It really makes me feel lucky I have medicaid…
(DIR) Post #AYXMiNoATAjGMNVQci by housepanther@mstdn.goblackcat.com
2023-08-08T20:33:19Z
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@IronCurtain @Npars01 @bobjmsn @antiproton @TomSwirly @ipd @PabloMartini Medicaid is better than what I get as a state employee in my state. Health insurance is a scam. Healthcare needs to be universal.