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Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

bbc.co.uk

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Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#31

Post by petermcneeley »

walshemj wrote: post #18
harshulpandav wrote: post #3

This exists probably in all countries. I also don't quite get the message out of these pictures. Or if it is even a matter which needs to be solved. If it is, redistribution of wealth is not practical IMO.

Ill try follow the guidelines here You really don't see the issue here? The migration of poor peasants to the cities living in slums is a well known phenomenon even in the UK a lot of slums existed until well after ww2 Of course South Africa has its own tragic post ww2 history I would have thought that most people would have some understanding

"Ill try follow the guidelines here" Ya Im guessing my response was a bit borderline. I wish HN had a private response.

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#32

Post by personlurking »

21 wrote: post #20
JoeAltmaier wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are across a fence from one another. If land was at a premium, I'd assume somebody in power would burn the slums and sell the land? That's what I don't get.

Apparently that happens: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mumbais-slums-make-way-for-luxu...

In Brazil as well (as India), though it mostly happened in the 20th century.

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#33

Post by modells »

Pulcinella wrote: post #22
modells wrote: post #2

In CA, 101 acts as that wall between PA and EPA. The differences are more subtle: less trees. https://goo.gl/maps/c6t8e6dtHbn Trees are one of the major factors affecting property value. If antifa really wanted to attack the 1%, they would covertly kill trees around the richest folks' homes and start fast-food franchises nearby.

Antifa is anti-fascist not anti-wealth. The are a lot of leftists who are both, but they are not the same thing. Antifa groups don’t protest Republican political rally’s, for example.

Right/left is a divide-and-conquer gambit. There are rich Democrats and rich Republicans whom are nearly indistinguishable in action and vary only on minor supposed values, both wings of as Gore Vidal called it, "The Property" party. The non-ideological property owners hedge bets on both team D and team R, and really don't care which win, so long as they keep voting for their interests first.

Antifa is fail because they're usually usurped by anarchists and hooligan mobs whom don't know whom they're fighting other than brands and slogans... like tilting at windmills. The enemy of 99% and the planet is most definitely the rich... not D, not R, not Chevron, not [insert astroturfing group] but those whom powerful people whom pull more of the strings to corrupt government in their favor.

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#34

Post by temp-dude-87844 »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #8

I'm always confused by these kind of pictures. The 'developed' spaces have apartment towers and dense construction - many more people appear to live there per acre. If land is at such a premium (and the towers seem to indicate this) then how on earth does the shack-dweller afford so much land (relatively) for their very-much-lower density housing? Sure maybe 20 people live in a shack, I understand that, but in the sa…

The higher density seen in the upmarket development isn't necessarily an indicator that land values in the area are high, or that space is at a premium. Rather, it correlates with the developer's belief in achieving a higher return from the development (despite the increase in construction cost) vs. building out lower density. Despite the two places meters apart and separated by a fence, it's the amenities of the upmarket development (e.g. degree of repair, safety, security, facilities, prestige) that makes it valuable, but only in an improved state after the fact.

In places where upscale market demand isn't overwhelmingly high, this keeps land prices low enough that residents of nearby low-class housing aren't priced out, or the landowner (who may or may not be the resident of the dwellings above) doesn't feel sufficient pressure to sell.

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#35

Post by Shivetya »

iamcasen wrote: post #5
harshulpandav wrote: post #3

This exists probably in all countries. I also don't quite get the message out of these pictures. Or if it is even a matter which needs to be solved. If it is, redistribution of wealth is not practical IMO.

The message the photographer is trying to convey is that our world economy relies on startling wealth inequality to keep functioning. There is no escape, and no solution without the wealthiest folks massively sacrificing. In order to live in a nice suburban home, drive a nice car, eat well, and have TVs and computers, slavery must exist. Important and useful minerals must be robbed from places like the Congo. Places…

the real test is, which side of the picture is growing. because the respect for private property and personal rights has reduced poverty more than any other means

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#36

Post by 21 »

Pulcinella wrote: post #22
modells wrote: post #2

In CA, 101 acts as that wall between PA and EPA. The differences are more subtle: less trees. https://goo.gl/maps/c6t8e6dtHbn Trees are one of the major factors affecting property value. If antifa really wanted to attack the 1%, they would covertly kill trees around the richest folks' homes and start fast-food franchises nearby.

Antifa is anti-fascist not anti-wealth. The are a lot of leftists who are both, but they are not the same thing. Antifa groups don’t protest Republican political rally’s, for example.

It says "Anti-Capitalist" right on their banner:

https://static.westernjournal.com/ct/wp-content/uploads/2017...

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#37

Post by billybolton »

harshulpandav wrote: post #3

This exists probably in all countries. I also don't quite get the message out of these pictures. Or if it is even a matter which needs to be solved. If it is, redistribution of wealth is not practical IMO.

What's wrong with just killing them, and taking their land? Obviously the rich don't give a shit about the poor. They'd rather hold on to their wealth, wall themselves into a gated community, than help their fellow citizens who are in poverty. The problem is people with wealth are too selfish to do anything. I'm all for having an involuntary euthanasia program for the poor and unfortunate.

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#38

Post by underwater »

Xcelerate wrote: post #27

Not to quite the same degree, but I find it interesting how you can discern the border of Atherton, CA from the surrounding area just by looking at the density of trees in the satellite view.

The visual difference is almost as pronounced in this view: https://binged.it/2wgPj2m (easier to see in Bing). The difference being the houses on the "poor" side are multi-million dollar homes.

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#39

Post by newnewpdro »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #13
21 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Location, location, location. Price per square m/ft is much lower in the slum than in the gated community. If you couldn't aford a place in the gated community, would you use that money to buy a place in the slum? Or would you try elsewhere? The problem in general is not absolute lack of space for building (except islands like Japan, ...), but lack of place to build in desirable locations.

They are across a fence from one another. If land was at a premium, I'd assume somebody in power would burn the slums and sell the land? That's what I don't get.

I think the preferred approach these days is create lots of high-paying jobs in close proximity to the slums and wait for gentrification to happen. Makes a bunch of yuppies do the dirty work and take all the risk of displacing communities as tenants while the rents skyrocket.

Then when they finally reach the point where they can afford to buy, they'll apply for huge mortgages to buy in the slum they effectively converted into a desirable place. Profit.

This is what seemed to play out in The Mission district of SF over the past decade or so.

Re: Aerial photos reveal the stark divide between rich and poor

#40

Post by fipple »

abraham_lincoln wrote: post #28
21 wrote: post #4

On a bigger scale, Whole Foods versus Walmart in California: https://i2.wp.com/famvin.org/en/files/2013/03/Walmart-and-Wh...

Interesting where the 2 spots that have both a Walmart and Whole Foods.

The Mountain View Whole Foods and Walmart are across the street from each other (along with Target and Trader Joe’s).
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