[speechlesstx]

"The issue is surplus housing – the remarkable growth of space that people don't need."

According to George Monbiot, you have more space than you need. That extra room for when the folks come for a visit? Gone. That family room? Wasted space. Your man cave? Unconscionable. Sewing room? No way. Two bathrooms? Don't even think about it.

The government reports that the rise in under-occupation "is entirely due to a large increase within the owner-occupied sector". Nearly half of England's private homeowners are now knocking around in more space than they need..

... "Wealth … is the key factor in whether or not we choose to occupy more housing space than is essential."

See, the problem is we haven't been fair with the "common resource" of housing.

While most houses are privately owned, the total housing stock is a common resource. Either we ensure that it is used wisely and fairly, or we allow its distribution to become the starkest expression of inequality. The UK appears to have chosen the second option. We have allowed the market, and the market alone, to decide who gets what – which means that families in desperate need of bigger homes are crammed together in squalid conditions, while those who have more space than they know what to do with face neither economic nor social pressure to downsize.

The solution? Pay a heavy tax or take in a charity lodger.

Those who use more than their fair share should pay for the privilege, with a big tax penalty for under-occupation. If it prompts them either to take in a lodger or to move into a smaller home in a lower tax band, so much the better.

Anyone know where George lives? I'd like to know if he's using more space than he needs.

[smoothy]

Typical leftist arguments by a Socialist whack job... Wanna bet that author isn't letting homeless people occupy his "extra" space... or is he just another Renter that bellyaches about why they can't live for free on someone else's property (because they are so awesum they are gracing someone with their presence) they deserve free rent. I'll bet he owns nothing... because the people that feel so entitled have rarely made the sacrifices to pay for what they want like the rest of us who worked hard for what we have.

Except of course for Hollywood and Al Gore... who think what they earned is somehow special and untouchablle... but what we earn we took from someone.

That dolt needs to learn you are entitled to exactly what you earn for yourself... not a chunk of someone else's sweat and blood.

If he put as much effort into earning something that he puts into bellyaching about why he can't get it free... he would have been able to pay cash for a house in Beverly Hills. And a Nice one too.

[speechlesstx]

Here's a shot of The Goracle's new Montecito, CA digs.



Maybe George can start with convincing the environmental guru to downsize or take in a few dozen homeless. They could use the pool as a "common resource" for bathing.

[smoothy]

Here's a shot of The Goracle's new Montecito, CA digs.



Maybe George can start with convincing the environmental guru to downsize or take in a few dozen homeless. They could use the pool as a "common resource" for bathing.

Few DOZEN? Hell you could bunk a few Hundred there, INSIDE the house.

Tell you what... the day I'M forced to let squatters in my house is the night I block the doors shut and burn it down (with the squatters inside). And I am certain I won't be alone doing it.

[tomder55]

From Monboit the word 'Moonbat ' was derived .

[excon]

Hello Steve:

What? You ain't got no local moonbats to complain about? You got to go overseas? Personally, I don't care much about the moonbats in other country's.

excon

[speechlesstx]

What?? You ain't got no local moonbats to complain about?? You gotta go overseas? Personally, I don't care much about the moonbats in other country's.

One of our residents from other elsewhere was complaining of Americans being "self-obscessed," so let's talk about moonbats from other countries for a while.

[smoothy]

One of our residents from other elsewhere was complaining of Americans being "self-obscessed," so let's talk about moonbats from other countries for a while.

They must not have ever visited France...

[paraclete]

One of our residents from other elsewhere was complaining of Americans being "self-obscessed," so let's talk about moonbats from other countries for a while.

Great! Let's do that you could start by sending some of that surplus housing over here, the rental market is mad

[speechlesstx]

great! let's do that you could start by sending some of that surplus housing over here, the rental market is mad

You're welcome to all of The Goracle's as far as I'm concerned, but the surplus is in the UK.

[paraclete]

You're welcome to all of The Goracle's as far as I'm concerned, but the surplus is in the UK.

Strange I though they had a surplus in the USA but perhaps that is just homeless people

[smoothy]

strange I though they had a surplus in the USA but perhaps that is just homeless people

We have a surplus of lazy people... but the worldwide demand for those are pretty low right now.

[paraclete]

There must be a glut they are everywhere