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Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

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Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What in the hell are you talking about? Who have I attacked? None of the people in this thread are my "most important political allies". Did you people read "political debate and logical fallacies for dummies"? How does "fuck you and your dreadlocks" do anything to help people? Should I use that next time I'm volunteering at the soup kitchen? Really, there must be no hope for American politics, because this is probab…

> I presume you have made some assumptions about me As you have made assumptions. Many of us are quite left-wing. I would be at home in a European socialist party. However, the escalation to violence against people like me leaves me disinclined to do anything to help you. Giving you more resources would seem to be aiding dangerous criminals.

What assumption did I make about your politics? You wear your politics loudly enough so as to preclude any need for assumption. Why have you characterized me as a dangerous criminal? I just very simply do not suffer fools or borderline racists.

I'm glad that you'd fit in with the European socialists, but your thinking is just so remarkably confused that it's comical. Actually, this strongly qualifies you to be a European socialist, replete with broken populist social initiatives and all, so good on you.

Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#152
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Far less so than having to live where you work, rather than being able to live where you want to live. Particularly since they have a bus to ride. People get on the backs of companies like Foxconn for corporate housing, but that is essentially what they are proposing that Google employees endure. And why? Because as "non-natives", Google employees somehow become some sort of second class citizen in the minds of these…

I don't think baddox is necessarily suggesting corporate housing, just housing that doesn't involve an hour-plus commute each way. Living closer to your workplace gives you a few extra hours each week - it's your choice whether to spend them at work or home.

He is advocating more restrictions (not enforced by law or company policy, admittedly, but driven by community violence) on housing options for Google employees.

Whether the remaining options are owned by Google, or a limited set of independent corporations and landlords is of little consequence. The result is that the employee is forced to live closer to work instead of where they please, serving as a constant reminder that their life truly does revolve around their employer.

What he is suggesting is dehumanizing.

In answer to the original query: "Why not live closer to work?"

Because that is not where they fucking want to live. They should be permitted to live anywhere that they have the ability and means to live. De-facto zoning of residential areas as off limits to employees of particular companies is insanity.

Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#153

West Oakland is a traditionally black neighborhood that surrounds the Port of Oakland. It has been heavily gentrified, developed, and restructured over the past three decades. Now there is an upper class enclave that has been established near the West Oakland BART station, in Jack London, and in the city of Emeryville. Oh fuck you and your dreadlocks. There are only two photos on that page, so I don't definitively kn…

Fun writeup. Wrong attitude.

Silicon Valley technology, this is Manhattan finance with a word of advice. We know the roots of the problem are housing supply restrictions and a lack of mass transit. In essence, City Hall problems. So why are they able to pin the blame on you?

Because you're painting a target on your back. Ducking your heads makes you a low-risk scapegoat. Scoffing at the less fortunate, regardless of whether they "deserve" it, makes you a juicy red political filet.

I'm not saying you need to up volunteering incentives for technology workers or visibly join hands with your foes and fight City Hall for more housing including, yes, the affordable kind. But don't throw daggers when you're down. As it stands, you're right but you're down.

Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#154

Gotta love “TECHIES: Your World Is Not Welcome Here” I find it hard to sympathize with a bunch of lazy thugs who do nothing to improve their situation. Engineering and white collar jobs in general have always paid well. Industries who are in demand even more so, and for just reason. Did similar protests happen in Detroit 50 years ago during the auto boom? Did unskilled rubes that do nothing all day put up banners say…

I wouldn't defend these guys in particular, but I will say that things were vastly different in Detroit (and the U.S. in general) 50 years ago. Those unskilled people could much more easily become skilled to the point that they landed solidly in the middle class. In general, there was much more opportunity to pull one's self up by the bootstraps, more even income distribution, and true mechanisms that allowed a risin…

Always love the downvotes without debate.

Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#155
post #20

The writing is strange and sounds very biased. The repeated reference to a kind young man , for example.

>> Many tech employees currently reside in these locations and have driven up the property values and rent prices, creating animosity, evictions, and poverty . Damn Google employees. Causing poverty.

If my rent goes from 40% to 50% of my income because property values changed, I am poorer.

Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is that a big corporation like Google gives less than it takes as of now, tax wise, and guarantees their employees a standard of living out of reach for most americans now, or the rest of the world for that matter. A standard of living paid for, in part, by the very same taxes they manage to avoid, along with several other big corporations. Not to mention they are no stranger to the US government, and pro…

Don't tech employees pay the same income and sales taxes as anybody else? Every age has its booming industry, technology is our generation's. You can either accept reality and try to acquire relevant skills that are in demand, or act hurt and expect to get handed what others have to work for.

Actually, they pay more taxes than the average resident. Higher-income people have higher income tax rates, buy more stuff (hence more sales tax) and live in more expensive real estate (higher property tax). If not for high-income people, the cities they live in would not be able to offer the services they do to low-income people.

Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I presume you have made some assumptions about me As you have made assumptions. Many of us are quite left-wing. I would be at home in a European socialist party. However, the escalation to violence against people like me leaves me disinclined to do anything to help you. Giving you more resources would seem to be aiding dangerous criminals.

What assumption did I make about your politics? You wear your politics loudly enough so as to preclude any need for assumption. Why have you characterized me as a dangerous criminal? I just very simply do not suffer fools or borderline racists. I'm glad that you'd fit in with the European socialists, but your thinking is just so remarkably confused that it's comical. Actually, this strongly qualifies you to be a Euro…

If you think the post you replied to had any racist content in it, you either didn't even try to read it, or are functionally illiterate. The comment was replying appropriately to the linked article's racially-charged rhetoric.

Re: Google Bus blocked, window smashed in West Oakland

#160

West Oakland is a traditionally black neighborhood that surrounds the Port of Oakland. It has been heavily gentrified, developed, and restructured over the past three decades. Now there is an upper class enclave that has been established near the West Oakland BART station, in Jack London, and in the city of Emeryville. Oh fuck you and your dreadlocks. There are only two photos on that page, so I don't definitively kn…

“I own property”
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