Obscene Wealth

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Something needs to be done about house prices, the Australian Greens have suggested this:

"The NSW Greens have launched a push to tax luxury homes and investment properties owned by the mega rich to help tackle the state's affordable housing shortfall.

The party's Extreme Wealth Property Tax package, announced on Sunday, includes plans to raise land tax for property developers and owners of mega-mansions worth tens of millions of dollars.

Greens MP Jenny Leong said the wealthy owners of trophy mansions and large property portfolios had remained unchecked for too long."

I think the Greens are terrible. If they were to govern, our society would be even less free than it already is, we'd be under all sorts of nonsense regulation. They would destroy the energy sector, farming and other businesses sectors because their philosophy is radically socialist, globalist and anti-nation. They are the classic tyranny hiding as friends of the people, and in this case the environment, party. I think most Australians on the right, centre right and centre left agree on that. 

But this is a good policy idea, and more important, attractive policy, because it will win people over. It's Robin Hood politics; take from the rich and give to the poor. Breaking the hold the wealthy have on property is necessary and even if you do not like this idea, still nothing speaks to the average person better than governments telling them they are going to champion them over the wealthy. 

However, there's no way the Greens can be trusted. Their overall political position should be seen as antithetical to our Australian way of life. 

In Discources on Livy Machiavelli notes you can undermine a political opponent who threatens the liberty of your nation, by effectively stealing their thunder. Take away the sting of their policy, by giving the people something similar that undermines what they can offer their base. 

The conservative side of politics has to get away from protecting the wealthy landed classes and subsidising their wealth hoarding and introduce policies which drive down house prices. Otherwise the Greens will get more popular and more powerful, because ideas like their policy will entice people. 

Conservatives should introduce policies to combat the Greens ideas. Such as reducing financial incentives for owning multiple homes, because this produces a family crippling social burden. The aim is not equality, the aim should be affordable housing for every family in every income bracket. Increased taxes on excessive land ownership. Captial locked in land is anti-industry, therefore policies that incentivize production rather than excessive hoarding are beneficial to all. Champion lower, or even net negative, immigration policies, which would take pressure off of house prices for all Aussies. Stop universities from monetizing immigration by serving foreign students, who rent Australian houses, putting upward pressure on the gousing market. Get rid of building stimulus and other measures which drive up house prices and more. 

There is much which can be done. But if the conservative side of politics refuses to engage these issues cleverly and appropriately they'll see even more radical policies done by the worst parties politics has to offer, undermining our social liberty. 

Edit: I came across this in Machiavelli tonight after writing this - 

"And to explain more clearly what is meant by the term gentlemen, I say that those are called gentlemen who live upon the proceeds of their extensive possession, without devoting themselves to agriculture or any other useful pursuit to gain a living. Such men are pernicious to any country or republic..."

Niccolo Machiavelli, Discources on Livy, pg135, Castalia House.