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From: rcb@fortune.UUCP (Robert Binstock)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Rent Control, etc.
Message-ID: <3322@fortune.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-May-84 15:03:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: fortune.3322
Posted: Wed May 16 15:03:51 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 17-May-84 03:24:30 EDT
References: <3276@fortune.UUCP>, <715@ucbvax.UUCP>
Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA
Lines: 39

>>As far as I can tell, 
>>the only reason for rent control is to ensure that everybody
>>gets reasonable housing (none of this "inaliable right" garbage -- 
>>people support things like this either because they are getting
>>the short end of the stick or because they feel guilty)....
	
>>The trouble with people who vehemently support either rent control 
>>or a free market is that they are too committed to the idea of
>>"rights". People have a right to housing, to private property,
>>and so forth. Where do these rights come from? I don't see
>>animals going around respecting each other's rights, nor many
>>people for that matter. A right is something that people get
>>together and decide that they want to claim for themselves, and
>>the only way that a right can exist is if they are strong enough
>>to preserve it....

>>So if we are to get anywhere, we are going to have to talk in
>>terms of goals and means, and not "rights". If something works,
>>it's the thing to do. What your goals are are your business. If
>>you can get the government to share the same goals, good for
>>you, but if you can't, complaining won't get you very far.

While I'm not a wide-eyed believer in human goodness, I STILL don't
think personal advantage or guilt are the only reasons one can
have for a political/ideological position.  If I feel that what
I consider to be everyone's basic needs are being met, I will be
happier (NOT less guilty, happier).  I think rent control can 
contribute to the eventual existence of this state of affairs and that 
is why I support it.

I agree about "rights".  If I referred to anyone's "right" to affordable
housing, I shouldn't have.  I do, however, feel that the question of
responsibility (our responsibility for each other as expressed through
goverment action) is involved.  I think that most anti-rent control 
people also feel that responsibility is an issue in one way or another.
Maybe this is why we get so passionate about it.  It represents more
than just pragmatic considerations.

Bob Binstock