DeepSummary
Steve and Amy discuss the current housing crisis in the United States, with nearly half of renters struggling to pay rent, utilities, or afford medical care even before the economic shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. They highlight the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities and how the crisis ties into issues of racial injustice and capitalism's failure to equitably distribute resources.
They explore short-term solutions like rent cancellation, tenant unions, and community land trusts that give residents control over their housing situation. They advocate for these as stepping stones towards the long-term goal of abolishing the commodification of housing and the exploitative landlord-tenant power dynamic.
Steve and Amy argue for treating housing as a human right rather than a market commodity. They discuss potential socialist models for collectively controlling and fairly distributing housing based on need rather than wealth, such as weighted lotteries factoring in disabilities and job roles.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The United States is in the midst of a severe housing crisis, with millions unable to afford rent, utilities or medical care.
- The housing crisis disproportionately impacts marginalized racial groups and ties into broader issues of racial injustice and wealth inequality.
- Short-term solutions include rent cancellation, eviction moratoriums, and forming tenant unions to advocate for renter rights.
- Long-term, housing should be decommodified and removed from the capitalist market system which generates housing scarcity and homelessness.
- Community land trusts and other models of democratic, resident-controlled housing should replace the landlord-tenant power dynamic.
- Housing is a fundamental human need tied to health and dignity, not something that should be dictated by ability to pay.
- The vacant housing supply in the US could immediately provide housing for all if addressing the crisis was made a priority over protecting landlord profits.
- Tackling the housing crisis requires transitioning away from the inequities inherent in capitalism towards socialist policies and collective ownership models.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The problem with capitalism is an extremely unjust way to distribute all the wealth we have, especially here in the United States, the most wealthy nation on earth, and we can't even give people homes.“ by Steve
- “These are people who exploit you for no fucking reason, and we're giving you more security in your home. We're making it cheaper to be able to live in a place to have a nice house that you have some say and control over.“ by Steve
- “Housing is the same as your health. You can't have good health without a roof over your head every night.“ by Amy Brobashar
- “Seriously, guys, the amount of research I did where it's just these tenant unions come in and get rid of a landlord that's sexually harassing so many tenants and these other tenants didn't even know about it.“ by Amy Brobashar
- “There are other countries that have less homelessness in their entire country than we have right here in Clark County, Nevada.“ by Steve
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Episode Information
Super Politics
Steve and Decatur
2/16/21
Even before the pandemic began, the United States was in the throes of a widespread housing crisis. We discuss the current situation, the inequities inherent to the housing market and the landlord-tenant relationship, and short-term vs. long-term solutions. Mentioned in this episode: Jacobin's article on community land trusts (https://www.jacobinmag.com/2019/07/community-land-trusts-clts-problems) Philosophy Tube (https://www.youtube.com/user/thephilosophytube) Please consider supporting the show on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/superpoliticsshow)