(no subject)

[johnny9fingers]

And now for something completely different:

An economics/oil posting.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,2212899,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12

This slide in the dollar will give the next administration a headache the size of Texas: which is the aftermath of an eight year party run by a Texan and his sidekicks (mainly his sidekicks, I deem).

Manhattan real estate is becoming affordable again to 'us Brits', as are the better bits of Long Island. Well, with a holiday home in NY you don't have to learn a foreign language, and Manhattan is one of the two candidates for best English Speaking Major Conurbation. (I know some folk like the West Coast....but really. Stable ground beneath one's feet and all that, what.)
And America is even cheaper for those countries tied to the Euro.
And so, what happened to London will happen to various cities in the US: young folk will not be able to get on the property ladder. Slightly richer foreigners will have forced the prices up beyond the means of the upcoming generations. Capital and equity will be defining factors. Class barriers will become re-inforced. Social mobility will diminish. Everyone not privately educated forced into McJobs.

I'm so pleased that there seems to be a correlation between levels of inequality and levels of crime.
That's why we absolutely need tax-cuts for the rich: else how are they going to be able to afford to employ enough private mercenaries to guard their property. (And on top of this they're providing jobs for otherwise unemployed and feckless folk who would, in lieu of this work, be cluttering up the welfare system or involved in crime - really, these rich folk are positively saintly.)
I'm just arguing from the Republican position, after all, one tries to be even handed about this stuff. Else I'd just be needlessly sarcastic, and that wouldn't fit with my personality, now: would it?

Comments

[e4q.livejournal.com]

if you buy a place, could it be one of those nice beach houses in the posh holiday bit? and then could you lend it to me?

just a thought.

but you are wrong about the language. technically similar, but you have to be prepared to talk in the style of one of those bits in opera where they all sing at once, or you will never speak at all. not very british.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Alas, I'm not yet in the market for any further property....my income hasn't been too stable these past few years (if ever, actually). I've been a musician for almost 30 years. I'm damn lucky to have the clothes I stand up in. My Old Man left me the flat in which I live, and I rather think that's my lot: I'm not the sort of person to do the lottery.

So unless I get lucky, the beach-house in the Hamptons is just outside my reach, unless I get fortunate and someone else leaves me something, which is unlikely as I'm now sorted: and there are much better calls on whatever money still remains than indulging in me any more than has been done.

I still can't believe how fortunate I've been.

[e4q.livejournal.com]

shame.

or not. sometimes i think it is better to just have your needs met and no more. there are some bloody weird dynamics once you get beyond that.

i don't do the lottery either. and if i do move it will be to the fens. if i had the dough i would have both and a car, but i don't think that is exactly a lottery style ambition. when the lottery came out everyone was talking endlessly about what they would do with their win and i could only think of pony trekking and suing people. neither of which would enhance my life.

[johnny9fingers.livejournal.com]

Why wouldn't pony-trekking enhance your life? Having a laugh should help whatever.

[e4q.livejournal.com]

well, it might have done at the time, nowadays i would have to invest in some of that body armour people get for skiing and skateboarding and the like and be bound in, actually a mummy outfit would probably do. it's not fear of breaking things, it's just that with the fibro if a big muscle spazzes out i could be in real trouble.

otherwise, as someone pointed out at the time, i could do that anyway - lottery or nottery.