A modest proposal.

[randomness]

If we're going to collectively own all these mortgages we're bailing out, I propose we start a collective crash space program with all those properties.

I'm not even asking the current owner/tenants to provide a bed, although I suppose we could make that a condition of aid. I can sleep in a sleeping bag as long as the roof is intact.

It really would rock to have possible crash space anywhere in the United States. And think of the effect on labor mobility!

Comments

[awfief.livejournal.com]

now that is an awesome prospect!

[stolen-tea.livejournal.com]

My modest proposal? We establish a small government agency, which reviews large corporations every few years, and if it determines that a corporation is "too big to fail", immediately nationalizes it.

[quezz.livejournal.com]

I think I just had an orgasm.

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

hee.

[marginaleye.livejournal.com]

How about a "financial death penalty" for all of the corporate officers of a company that needs a bailout?

Forbidden to possess anything but cash or a simple bank account ever again. No stocks. Nothing that can be traded on an exchange or in a market of any kind. No real estate, apart from a personal home. They can be salaried employees, but that's it.

Oh, and a big red "bailout case" tattooed across the back of the signature-signing hand.

[ashears.livejournal.com]

I like this in theory ,but there's too many people out there in whose house I wouldn't want to stay. Kinda like how hitchhiking has become a very bad idea as time it goes on.

[dpolicar]

Heh.
If it weren't for the maintenance implications, I'd sorta want this to work. I wouldn't take advantage of it, personally, but I'd like the society it implies.

[chris-warrior.livejournal.com]

i should have thought of this. no matter, i want in!

[babasyzygy.livejournal.com]

I think we should turn all foreclosed property into federally-owned and -operated casinos.

[ketzl.livejournal.com]

We'd need to have a website for reserving the crash space and collect small reservation fees to cover maintenance. Hm. crash.gov?

[chain saw with a magician (from livejournal.com)]

That's awesome. The people who are *really* behind on payments get to help put up the local homeless population.

[klingonlandlady.livejournal.com]

yeah, and does this mean that with those bank-owned already-vacant foreclosed properties we have just socialized a whole lot of property, and now have all the housing we need for the homeless, for low-income programs, and to use as youth hostels? that'd be good.

[gravitrue.livejournal.com]

er, how about they break it into smaller pieces instead?

[stolen-tea.livejournal.com]

Too finicky, too complicated. We tried that with Microsoft. The government shouldn't be deciding how best to divide up business units beforehand. It should swoop in, grab the pot, and then auction off pieces later to the highest bidder.

Besides, they'll do it for us, if we give them 6 months head start. It's the free market in action! All we have to do is provide a magnetic pole that repulses business, and they will flee on their own accord! :> We can sit back and watch as the corporations split in a frenzy of mitosis...

[gravitrue.livejournal.com]

I don't think hitchhiking is a very bad idea, I think the fear industry has sold us the idea that it is.

[gravitrue.livejournal.com]

that actually makes sense; some of the flood of foreclosed properties should be converted to low-income housing.

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

Aye, that's the Golden Rule. We have the gold, we make the rules! And that one's actually reasonable and useful!
BTW, if we get the new house, we'll be able to offer you crash space!

[ashears.livejournal.com]

Sorry, friend of a friend got shot & killed in a hitchhiking incident. Nobody sold me anything.