We have a housing crisis, not an energy crisis

The more I hear about how the energy "crisis" is huring Americans, the angrier I get. The story, according to the mainstream media, is that Americans are mad that the price of gasoline is so high and Congress has to do something about it.

The real crisis is not in energy, it's in affordable housing. Housing eats up a vastly larger portion of people's salaries than do gasoline and other petroleum distillates. Yet no one complains about the crisis in affordable housing.

Yet the problem of affordable housing is a problem that politicians can actually fix, because the reason why housing is so expensive is because of restrictive zoning laws and labyrinthine construction approval processes. Making housing affordable really is a matter of politicians passing a few laws (or repealling some laws).

In contrast, politicians cannot do much to lower the price of gasoline because its primary ingrediant, crude oil, is a global commodity that's outside the control of U.S. politicians.

Of course I am aware of the dirty little secret--approximately 70% of Americans own their home, and the well off 70% couldn't care the less about the less well off 30%. The 70% probably vote with greater frequency too, and they have more money to donate to political campaigns. So 70% of Americans couldn't be happier when housing costs increase and the bottom 30% of society become even more worse off.

Comments

[probligo]

This here might interest you...

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:bzA1JNxIEI8J:www.demographia.com/dhi-ix2005q3.pdf

Interesting that NZ major cities all fall in the "Unaffordable index" range.

There are also parts of the US - Buffalo, Rochester and Akron were prominent - where housing is eminently affordable.

[tsarinaamanda]

Yeah, I happen to live in an area where housing is insanely unaffordable (Northern VA), and nothing is being done. In fact, they are demolishing affordable housing to build million-dollar McMansions! I'm 24 and still living with my parents despite having a fairly well paying job, and an education, simply because it's impossible to afford anything! I COULD possibly buy a house, but I'd lose my car and be unable to get to work (with our stellar public transportation system, if you don't drive, you're screwed), wouldn't be able to pay for gas, food, or anything. It's ridiculous, and believe me, I won't be holding my breath for a solution, I cannot work MORE jobs to pay for a house, there's only 24 hours in a day, and I DO have to get some sleep and eat, so I guess I'm screwed. Oh well, I certainly didn't expect any help from the government on this issue, despite the massive amounts of taxes I pay...we gotta support the billions of illegals who live here, how else will they get their free lunches, medical care, and not pay taxes without our support? But lucky me, I GET SCREWED! YAY GOVERNMENT, THANKS!!