Hi Bronwyn. I've realised for a few years that the real problem is housing. Kirsty who finds homes for ppl on TV in the UK suggested that 1st time buyers should stop going to Starbucks for lattes if they want to get on the property ladder. We've had the bank of mum & dad then gran providing the ever increasing deposit but now that's all figured into the affordable sum it's time to think about going hungry. The ease with which ppl can get credit has done nobody (except bankers & real estate agents) any favours. As for scarcity in food, I've noticed that some branded goods now cost over twice as much as their generic equivalent but previously this differential wouldn't have been no more than 50%; that suggests price gouging to me. I avoid most branded products simply because I don't want to be cheated. I own my house so I'm fortunate, I pity those trying to rent a place in the cities where their best employment prospects are.
I'd say the problem is upstream from housing : money without rules. I've been thinking lately how chasing money is a poor people's game : the really rich just take what they want or print money (which is effectively the same thing) - no amount of UBI will fix this, since it's a nominal solution to a real problem : the fact that some people have to earn money (or accept a fixed allowance in exchange for living in society) while others get to create money out of thin air and allocate it to whom they want. This virtualisation of money, combined with the Cantillon effect means property (a really scarce asset) will always be owned by those closest to the money taps (who are really those closets to a monopoly - or at least a competitive advantage - on violence, aka POWER).
Hi Bronwyn. I've realised for a few years that the real problem is housing. Kirsty who finds homes for ppl on TV in the UK suggested that 1st time buyers should stop going to Starbucks for lattes if they want to get on the property ladder. We've had the bank of mum & dad then gran providing the ever increasing deposit but now that's all figured into the affordable sum it's time to think about going hungry. The ease with which ppl can get credit has done nobody (except bankers & real estate agents) any favours. As for scarcity in food, I've noticed that some branded goods now cost over twice as much as their generic equivalent but previously this differential wouldn't have been no more than 50%; that suggests price gouging to me. I avoid most branded products simply because I don't want to be cheated. I own my house so I'm fortunate, I pity those trying to rent a place in the cities where their best employment prospects are.
Best regards. John
I'd say the problem is upstream from housing : money without rules. I've been thinking lately how chasing money is a poor people's game : the really rich just take what they want or print money (which is effectively the same thing) - no amount of UBI will fix this, since it's a nominal solution to a real problem : the fact that some people have to earn money (or accept a fixed allowance in exchange for living in society) while others get to create money out of thin air and allocate it to whom they want. This virtualisation of money, combined with the Cantillon effect means property (a really scarce asset) will always be owned by those closest to the money taps (who are really those closets to a monopoly - or at least a competitive advantage - on violence, aka POWER).
Ah the money game😬