tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post5636444164531531234..comments2024-03-18T15:45:32.866-04:00Comments on bensozia: La Grande BorneJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01037215533094998996noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304928500646903522.post-81460057221168979572015-02-13T10:28:26.544-05:002015-02-13T10:28:26.544-05:00Really, the notion of housing projects is itself a...Really, the notion of housing projects is itself absurd. Studies keep finding the best way to help the poor is to give them money and jobs. But instead of doing that and helping the poor to be able to afford <i>normal homes</i>, we figure wouldn't it be cheaper and easier just to make "discount housing"? I mean, why elevate the poor to a higher standard of living when you can just sell to their limited current price range with lower quality homes instead?<br /><br />So then we have opportunistic architects out to snag lucrative construction projects designing the architectural equivalents of sardine cans - as space efficient as possible for as cheap as possible, with just enough color slapped on the exterior to make it marketable. All the people who sign off on the project are wealthy enough to not have to live there, so it's easy to praise it as some great community service. Then when it's built, the poor don't move there because they <i>want</i> to - they move in because it's <i>cheap</i>, and they're struggling enough as it is.<br /><br />So now you've got all the poor people packed away in one place out of sight away from the rich, and there's no real incentive for the people in charge to care about anything other than collecting rent. There are no jobs in the area? Not our problem! The school system isn't inadequate for the local population density? Take it up with the city! Local drug and crime rates are climbing? Call the chief of police! Look, if you don't like living here, go live somewhere else, you cheapskate ingrates!G. Verlorennoreply@blogger.com