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stevenleser

(32,886 posts)
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:34 AM Jan 2012

American Paradox: 18.5 Million Vacant Homes and 3.5 Million Homeless :-(

This is horrible!

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/287-124/9218-american-paradox-185-million-vacant-homes-and-35-million-homeless

his is usually one of my favorite times of the year - the holidays are approaching, the aromas of cinnamon, orange and cranberry are in the air and it's time to rest and watch old movies on TV. One of those old movies invariably on at this time of year still resonates today - It's a Wonderful Life. In this 1946 Jimmy Stewart film, a small town in crisis comes together to prevent George Bailey, the benevolent loan man, from being imprisoned at the behest of the millionaire slum landlord Mr. Potter.

In the last few days, the US government census figures have revealed that 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty or are struggling to live on low incomes. And we know that the financial hardships faced by our neighbors, colleagues, and others in our communities will be all the more acutely felt over the holiday season.

Along with poverty and low incomes, the foreclosure rate has created its own crisis situation as the number of families removed from their homes has skyrocketed.

Since 2007, banks have foreclosed around eight million homes. It is estimated that another eight to ten million homes will be foreclosed before the financial crisis is over. This approach to resolving one part of the financial crisis means many, many families are living without adequate and secure housing. In addition, approximately 3.5 million people in the U.S. are homeless, many of them veterans. It is worth noting that, at the same time, there are 18.5 million vacant homes in the country.

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American Paradox: 18.5 Million Vacant Homes and 3.5 Million Homeless :-( (Original Post) stevenleser Jan 2012 OP
Yes, it is disgusting. And something has to give. tabatha Jan 2012 #1
There are two main divisive points of view in American politics that are hurting us all IMNSHO stevenleser Jan 2012 #3
Good points. tabatha Jan 2012 #9
Squatting guthenson Jan 2012 #2
I dont understand why we cant formalize that process stevenleser Jan 2012 #4
Because people must be homeless in order to have artificial scarcity which drives prices TheKentuckian Jan 2012 #6
Wow and i mean WOW. Well said! eom chowder66 Jan 2012 #8
You're a prolific little troll, aren't you. Lil Missy Jan 2012 #10
Occupy foreclosures! joshcryer Jan 2012 #5
Actually, there's probably a lot more "homeless" than that. TheWraith Jan 2012 #7
When history judges our culture Tsiyu Jan 2012 #11
it's no paradox SixthSense Jan 2012 #12
There are extremely easy answers to this paradox, none of which stand a chance in a corrupt society just1voice Jan 2012 #13

tabatha

(18,795 posts)
1. Yes, it is disgusting. And something has to give.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:38 AM
Jan 2012

(Actually, maybe the fighting on this board is a symptom of the unhealthy state of the nation.)

 

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)
3. There are two main divisive points of view in American politics that are hurting us all IMNSHO
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:42 AM
Jan 2012

Pragmatism vs Idealism beween us on the left

and corporatism vs. the 99% in terms of traditional left-right politics.

Those issues are pulling the country apart. We cannot have any solutions until we find a way to resolve those issues.

 

guthenson

(8 posts)
2. Squatting
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:42 AM
Jan 2012

A lot of homeless people are squatting in these vacant homes - I guess economist could refer to this squatting as an "efficient allocation of resources." It would be a shame to let these vacant homes go to waste.

TheKentuckian

(25,023 posts)
6. Because people must be homeless in order to have artificial scarcity which drives prices
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:47 AM
Jan 2012

for rents an property. Homelessness also keeps us "small people" in line, we know how close we are.

TheWraith

(24,331 posts)
7. Actually, there's probably a lot more "homeless" than that.
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 01:47 AM
Jan 2012

That number almost certainly doesn't count people who are staying with family or friends, which is going to be a very large number.

Tsiyu

(18,186 posts)
11. When history judges our culture
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 04:25 AM
Jan 2012


Many many years from now, we will be judged one of the cruelest, most unfair, most wasteful cultures that ever called itself civilized.
 

SixthSense

(829 posts)
12. it's no paradox
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 06:17 AM
Jan 2012

people make a hell of a lot of money off of it

3500 banksters are more important to the government than are 3.5 million poor citizens.

 

just1voice

(1,362 posts)
13. There are extremely easy answers to this paradox, none of which stand a chance in a corrupt society
Mon Jan 2, 2012, 05:53 PM
Jan 2012

Pass a debt act that grants 4% govt backed loans to pay off all debt, credit cards and mortgages.

Put banking criminals in jail for real estate fraud, derivatives fraud, securities fraud, money laundering.

Universal health care -- that'd put 100s and in many cases 1000s of dollars in people's pockets immediately.

Get corporate money out of politics so the peoples' interests are represented.

NONE of this will occur in the current society of propaganda fools, partisan hacks and corporate govt.

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