'Where We Live' - a survey of the decline in British housing.

[SteamyTea]

3 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

happened here with the Highland Clearances, but we've evolved a bit since then.

I do wonder if we really have, or maybe polarisation is human nature when resources get scarce.

[saveasteading]

1 hour ago, SteamyTea said:

when resources get scarce.

Off topic.

You are excused not knowing this history.

It was not a shortage, (The Irish Potato famine was) :but greed of the ruling classes.

As perhaps is the Chinese case.

It was after the Union of Parliaments, and many of the Highland Chieftains/ lords, now resident in London, became readily persuaded that they'd be rich if they abandoned the community / clan system, evicted the people and put sheep on the land.  The people were loaded on ships with few belongings. Hence the very large numbers of Highland names in NE US and Canada. Some Lords were brutal, others less so.

"Such a parcel of rogues in a nation" by Burns refers to Scots not English Lords.

[MikeSharp01]

7 hours ago, JohnMo said:

"greater good". 

Utilitarianism has some fundamental downsides I think such as how do you assess greater good anyway. It it how all the people see it or just a few who say "this will be for the greater good" alternatively is it for the greater good now or later - hard to know!

[saveasteading]

And good for who  (whom?) . like in trickle down theory  / jam tomorrow / Brexit.

 

 

[JohnMo]

18 minutes ago, MikeSharp01 said:

Utilitarianism has some fundamental downsides I think such as how do you assess greater good anyway. It it how all the people see it or just a few who say "this will be for the greater good" alternatively is it for the greater good now or later - hard to know!

Good, point, but NIMBY's aren't a good solution either. They just cost a load of tax payers money and everything takes an age. Leading to a great deal stagnation - Just as the UK is at present, slowly turning into a mess.

[SteamyTea]

1 hour ago, JohnMo said:

Just as the UK is at present, slowly turning into a mess

I have been hearing that all my adult life, numbers don't back it up though.

[Indy]

 

11 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

I have been hearing that all my adult life, numbers don't back it up though.

Agreed. I will admit that on balance - it still remains one of the best places on the planet despite the doom and gloom that we get blasted from every media outlet.

 

However, I have noticed a real degradation on a number of fronts since 2008. Public services, wage growth, levels of taxation, investment in infrastructure - these are all worse in a material way.