Government controls mean more controls
“I have seen too many great opportunities pass by the town because of past applicants who have come in front of Fairhaven boards and were subjected to many expenses that are not called for due to some individuals who are always negative to a good opportunity.” [Ruy DaSilva, Fairhaven businessman, Appeals Board member, Planning Board candidate]
“By limiting the amount of revenue that developers can generate, rent control tends to discourage investment in new housing, and thereby depresses supply.” [New Bedford Mayor, John Mitchell, 3/28/23]
“[Mitchell] said rent control has been discredited as a means of providing more housing. It has the opposite effect….He added that the state passed a referendum in 1994 abolishing rent control because it failed to address housing needs. Most economists agree it reduces housing supply and quality.” [Standard-Times, Leftist, 3/28/23]
Some of the longer-run issues affecting U.S. housing supply…have been present for years, including local zoning restrictions [Biden’s Council Of Economic Advisors, Sep. 9, 2021, Leftist]
“The Massachusetts Zoning Act… encourage[s] affordable housing.” [Michelle Costen, FNN letter, 3/23/23]
“Affordable’ is a deliberately vague, ambiguous and undefined idea, rationalizing arbitrary government. Short-range Pragmatists want lowered housing costs with a government gun. It’s impossible. Government has no free goodies of its own. It taxes or regulates Peter to pay or benefit Paul. Now Peter has less money to invest in new production with new jobs, hurting Paul. Looting the most productive people will eventually, in the long run, indirectly, unintentionally, hurt the less productive people. The Massachusetts Zoning Act increases costs, decreasing “affordable” housing.
Rain dances don’t cause rain. Government controls don’t increase anything except more controls and more short-range, power-lusting Pragmatists. When controls fail, many people blame political opponents or conspiracy. When their gang of looting thugs gets political power, we will have the Garden Of Eden, with apples, no snakes. New, “affordable” houses will pop out of the ground, like mushrooms after a Spring rain.
“Local governments require development fees, studies and public meetings that drag out construction and drive up its cost. Through zoning rules, governments also force developers to build on larger lots than some buyers might want, and create more parking than buyers might use.” [New York Times, Jul 14, 2022, Leftist].
“The Federal Reserve began to raise interest rates. This has led to higher mortgage rates….anybody who’s lending money knows that they’re not going to really get the true value back unless they charge a higher [mortgage] rate because the money in the future is not going to be worth as much as money today.” [Public Broadcasting System, Aug 5, 2022, Leftist]
Housing is the product of the independent, focused minds of entrepreneurs, investors, bankers, mortgage lenders, venture capitalists, architects, contractors, carpenters, electricians, painters, etc. Government has no mystical knowledge of investment.
Government is not your kindly Uncle Fred with free goodies for the kiddies. There is no free lunch. Government subsidies are looting, not investment. Everybody loses in the long run evaded by short-range Pragmatists. Everybody loses to the mystical “common good.” You are not the “common good.” Your individual good will be sacrificed to the “common good.”
Government can protect the lynch mob of democracy (unlimited majority rule) that votes to loot some people for the short-range benefit of other people. Government economic regulations, sacrifice unpopular ethnic, national, economic or “racial” minorities.
Or government can protect the right to life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, property, production, trade and the pursuit of profit.
Stephen Grossman, Fairhaven
•••
Click here to download the 4/6/23 issue: 04-06-23 Election
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal
