Yeah I rent a room from someone who owns their house and I swayed them by making that argument when we were talking about housing shortages. I really don't have as much of a problem with an atomized population of super small-time landlords who can't make their entire living off of renting out property. It's much harder for groups like that to organize their power against tenants, and if they actually have a real job(tm) then it's even better because they aren't entirely dependent on their serfs for cash flow.
The other argument I made for state-owned housing (which IIRC exists in Berlin?) which I think might be kind of effective for liberals (or at least my landlord) is to consider the idea of state owned housing for well-to-do folks, and what benefits it can provide. To really get on their side and get them to drop their guard I permit myself to acknowledge the "drawbacks" of providing housing to only poor people (I know I know, bear with me on this), which is what the US currently does. They'll be more willing to listen if you point out the fact that "the projects" have high crime, a bad reputation, are a drain on tax dollars, etc.--without acknowledging any context, as one does when you're trapped in the liberal mindset. But then once they drop their guard, ask them to consider what "the projects" would look like if they were rented out by people like themselves or myself. I'm a working professional, a great tenant by all accounts, pay my rent on time, fix things etc. I'm a very profitable tenant to have around, but of course all the private property owners fall head over heels to extract that from me because I'm seen as a low-risk tenant. But fuck that, why should they get all the good tenants while the government is left holding the bag trying to assist people who are much worse off than me? Wouldn't a very reasonable way to subsidize low-income housing be to provide higher income housing as well? Anyways that's something I thought of to kind of help plant some seeds. I don't think it's perfect but it seems like a decent start.
Yeah I rent a room from someone who owns their house and I swayed them by making that argument when we were talking about housing shortages. I really don't have as much of a problem with an atomized population of super small-time landlords who can't make their entire living off of renting out property. It's much harder for groups like that to organize their power against tenants, and if they actually have a real job(tm) then it's even better because they aren't entirely dependent on their serfs for cash flow.
The other argument I made for state-owned housing (which IIRC exists in Berlin?) which I think might be kind of effective for liberals (or at least my landlord) is to consider the idea of state owned housing for well-to-do folks, and what benefits it can provide. To really get on their side and get them to drop their guard I permit myself to acknowledge the "drawbacks" of providing housing to only poor people (I know I know, bear with me on this), which is what the US currently does. They'll be more willing to listen if you point out the fact that "the projects" have high crime, a bad reputation, are a drain on tax dollars, etc.--without acknowledging any context, as one does when you're trapped in the liberal mindset. But then once they drop their guard, ask them to consider what "the projects" would look like if they were rented out by people like themselves or myself. I'm a working professional, a great tenant by all accounts, pay my rent on time, fix things etc. I'm a very profitable tenant to have around, but of course all the private property owners fall head over heels to extract that from me because I'm seen as a low-risk tenant. But fuck that, why should they get all the good tenants while the government is left holding the bag trying to assist people who are much worse off than me? Wouldn't a very reasonable way to subsidize low-income housing be to provide higher income housing as well? Anyways that's something I thought of to kind of help plant some seeds. I don't think it's perfect but it seems like a decent start.