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Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

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Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#861

Post by _DeadFred_ »

michaelbarton wrote: post #13

I hope this win signals (to both parties) that voters are receptive and will get engaged when a clear message is presented about cost of living and quality of life issues. Some of which are taken for granted in most other western countries. I’m no political wonk, and I’m curious what others with more insight might say about his ability to fund and implement his polices. I’m reminided of Obama and his hopeful message…

People should also remember Democrats won contested Governor ships as well. This wasn't just a Mamdani election/victory night, though the far left want to make it look that way.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#862

Post by johnnyanmac »

kelnos wrote: post #481
testfoobar wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course Krugman got that wrong. It is funny. But economists don't disagree about the effects of price controls. These are easy to observe and model. These concepts are also taught to Economics undergraduates all over the world - often in their first Microeconomics class. They are not controversial. Here is a Khan Academy video: https://www.khanacademy.org/economics-finance-domain/microec...

I feel like economists (as the Krugman quote above seems to illustrate) don't consider the real world. Price controls aren't necessary when there's abundance. When housing supply meets (or slightly exceeds) demand, landlords don't jack up rents every year and displace tenants. When it doesn't, and can't, what do we do to keep people from losing their homes? (And don't give me the usual drivel about how people who are…

> Compassion, please. These are humans we're talking about.

I think that's the core issue with detractors. Rent control is relief, and those who are not in danger only see the forest and miss the trees burned in the process.

If you only think about humans as a spreadsheet, rent control makes no sense. "You gotta crack a few eggs to make an omelette" kind of deal. Even some otherwise economically progressive people I know seem to miss this, but I suppose being able to comment on the internet carries a bit of security to begin with.

The gold faith interpretation lies in the idea that rent control is political poison. It's unpopular to undo rent control, so it's never undone. And I get that. But

1. I see that as sign of a weak politician. Yeah, sometimes we need higher taxes. No one "likes" taxes but we need them.

2. In some ways, trying to undo rent control means the problem isn't solved yet. There's less resistance against rent control once you see housing prices start to fall naturally.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#863

Post by doom2 »

Blackstrat wrote: post #748
Blackstrat wrote: post #731

Didn't work out well in London. Let's hope NYC does better. Doubt it, but we can always hope.

[flagged]

> He is an anti-Semite.

Fortunately for NYC voters, the other candidates (and national Republicans generally) seemed happy to traffic in casual Islamophobia. Why we don't treat the two as equally unacceptable is beyond me.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#864

Post by MRson »

octaane wrote: post #73

You guys have it all wrong. There was only one candidate for the dem party, Here's the list: 1) Cuomo. Sexpest who has been accused by many women of some pretty shitty stuff. Also a member of a multi-generational dynasty, which is not good. 2) Mayor Adams. Federally indicted by the Feds. They have a 99% conviction rate. Not because they're corrupt, but because they only go after people who have dome some really egreg…

[dead]

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#865

Post by johnnyanmac »

Dracophoenix wrote: post #144
asdaqopqkq wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does he explain Tokyo then ?

Lax zoning regulations, relatively cheap labor, low cost of materials, and depreciating home values incentivize building new real estate. That is what separates Tokyo from New York City.

I don't think it's any of that. Or at least those sre all second order efdects.

It's a much more conformist, homogenized culture so there's less resistance in implementing policy on general.

Also, housing isn't an "asset" the way it is in the US. You simply don't place as much value on your house over there, so there's less resistance to renovating or outright demolishing houses every few decades. Americans would instead see money going down the drain.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#867

Post by johnnyanmac »

raincom wrote: post #182
testfoobar wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The underlying cause of runaway asset price inflation is ZIRP and QE. Renters experience it as rent increases outpacing wage increases - this is socially destructive. But neither Mamdani (DSA) or Democrats or Republicans are willing to touch Federal Reserve QE. Senator Schumer (D-NY) famously said in 2012 to Ben Bernanke (Federal Reserve Chair): 'Get To Work Mr. Chairman' - encouraging him to start Quantitative Easin…

Democrats want higher wages for workers instead of reducing the cost of living (rent, insurance, etc).

At this point we need both. If full time minimum wage can't afford an entry level studio apartments, then we're already in trouble.

For reference, that's $2100 or so of monthly take home pay for NYC's 16.50 minimum wage. Old wisdom would mean that this should make for $700 rental prices. But I'm sure few Gen Z are expecting rent to be 30% of income.

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#868

Post by bdangubic »

insane_dreamer wrote: post #353
bdangubic wrote: post #172

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that isn’t the fatal flaw. the fatal flaw is campaigning and staking your entire political career on something and the delivering something sooooo subpar. the sad thing is, history will remember him as first black President and that’s really about it. and most of us cried watching that speech from lincoln park. our current president is causing most of us to cry daily but will be remembered as one of the most influent…

presidents don't pass legislation, and the original Obamacare was too radical even for all the Dem senators, not to mention needing some GOPs to get 60 votes Maybe, if Obama had been as ruthless as Trump and used blatant lies and targeted attacks on senators to make them so fearful of re-election that they would play along, he might have gotten it passed, though probably not even then. Plus, as much as I wish we'd ha…

> original Obamacare was too radical even for all the Dem senators

This statement alone is the craziest thing about our country (I don't disagree...). However, if you make something a centerpiece of your entire political life and then you do not deliver you have effectively failed. I am sure if Obama had a do-over he would either get this done right or punt and focus his tenure on something he could have actually delivered...

Re: Zohran Mamdani wins the New York mayoral race

#869

Post by randerson »

_heimdall wrote: post #697
xivzgrev wrote: post #415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll give you one reason, among many, it wasn't a failure. It made it illegal to deny people health insurance coverage based on pre existing conditions. That was a big step forward in a broken system to restore some humanity to the system.

Had the ACA gone further and actually provided a single payer system, I'd consider the block on denials based on preexisting conditions a win. As it is we have a system of private "insurance" that can't consider the risk level of those being insured. All that means is the companies charge everyone else more to subsidize the cost of those who are more at risk. That bastardizes the whole point of private insurance. I d…

Your neighbor buying a Porsche was a choice they made. Nobody chooses to have a pre-existing condition. We're also talking about a luxury vs simple survival. I am not sure how you can compare them.

What insurers in some countries do is charge higher premiums for people who engage in high-risk behaviors, like smoking, drinking, or extreme sports. Those are all choices so it seems fair to charge a sin tax for them. Higher premiums would discourage risky behavior and improve the health of the country as a whole.

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