Medical Tuesday Blog
Words of Wisdom Never Heeded
From the March 8, 2019 WSJ Mary Anastasia O’Grady Venezuela’s Long Road to Ruin: “Rent control in Venezuela dates to 1939 but was not enforced until August 1960 by Betancourt when he passed a new rent-control law with prohibitions on eviction. Since then ‘not one apartment building has been built.’” Swedish economist Carl Assar Lindbeck famously stated: “Next to bombing, rent control seems in many cases to be the most efficient technique so far known for destroying cities.” Oregon Defies Logic With Statewide Rent ControlIt is often said by cynical economists and political commentators, usually of the right or libertarian persuasion, that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. There is no more odious and damaging economic policy that comes from the heart than rent control. It seems counter-intuitive to bleeding hearts, but rent control hurts the poor. Greg Byrne responds: “As a retired legal counsel to Oregon Landlords, I regret I will miss out on the bonanza in legal fees that is certain to result from tenant lawsuits under the new law.” Pepper . . . and Salt: (WSJ Cartoon) “Care to sign up for our customer rewards card that gives you the illusion that you’re getting some kind of deal?” |
Leave a Reply