And some property owners are now land-peasants, instead of landlords. But not a whole lot. Most of the wealth of the lower middle class is tied up in their personal homes. Too bad poor people are not given the same opportunity. Funny how most poor people when given the chance at homeownership, become middle class after a while. (Well maybe not humorous to the powers) We do not have to import any middle class into poor Minneapolis neighborhoods. Just organically grow our own. Funny how the present powers that be may rather subsidize affordable rental units at $60,000 or $80,000 (or more) so people can rent at the supposed "affordable" rates of $1100.00 per month, and keep them in poverty, rather than just helping some poor family to own a house with the same amount. But they do! My question is, "Affordable to who?"

Of course the powers may be correct, if they provided affordable homeownership soon the housing would not be occupied by poor people. The stability equity gain might cause those poor people to no longer be poor. I guess the only logical answer is that the "powers" that be are bothered by poor people no longer being poor. Perhaps that is why the "Sharecropper" housing known as Land Trusts seem so popular with politicians.

Remember folks, the Neighborhoods teamed with the County Commissioners, the State Representative, and the Union folks on the NRP Policy Board to attempt to use NRP funds to have a "Guaranteed Loan Program". NOT SPENT, or loaned the money, but used it as guarantees on loans. Sort of like an expanded G.I. Housing Bill for poor people in Minneapolis for affordable homeownership. That guaranteed loan program would have leveraged huge amounts of dollars and made possible affordable homeownership for hundreds of Minneapolis families. Made it possible at lower payments per month for ownership than for renting. Unfortunately, the few powers that be thought we needed an even higher vacancy rate for large multi-unit rental apartments, so they fought to snatch even that small amount back. Guess the powers gotta keep those poor people from controlling their own "capital" goods in the form of a homeownership housing. Sort of like how Mr. Eddy and Mr. Billy kept people from owning anything back home, (for our own good of course). Heck those poor people might not be so nice if empowered and mobilized, they might even move into "better" neighborhoods as if they were as good as other people.

Cynical I know, but it sure sometimes seems we are more dedicated to supporting a poverty industry, than in helping poor people to climb out of poverty. This old cotton picker has one thing to say about housing and economic development in Minneapolis, "We need a whole lot less FLUFF and a lot more SUBSTANCE if we are going to get it done!

So Ed, what's the definition of political FLUFF?

Jim Graham,
Ventura Village



----- Original Message ----- From: "Ed Felien" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 10:53 AM
Subject: [Mpls] definition of terms



Bourgeoisie generally refers to that class that owns the means of
production.

Petit Bourgeoisie generally refers to that class that operates small
businesses.

Landowners are generally considered a separate class, though large
landowners generally identify with the bourgeois class, and small landlords
generally identify with the petit bourgeois.


Ed Felien
Powderhorn



I've stopped 53,131 spam messages. You can too!
One month FREE spam protection at http://www.cloudmark.com/spamnetsig/?



REMINDERS:
1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.


2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
________________________________


Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:[email protected]
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list.

2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait.

For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html
For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract
________________________________

Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn 
E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:[email protected]
Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls

Reply via email to