American Communism

[PositiveOutlook]

To put it in perspective...

All you have to do is look at the motivation... If the inspections proposed are not a "punitive" way to collect additional revenue, then the inspections would work both ways, for the renter and the landlord in the form of an equitable application of the inspections.

Inspections produce reports on condition of property
- If next annual inspection relates to an indentified landlord problem (i.e. - roof, heating, plumbing, electrical, etc.), then landlord pays (a rating system of A through D based on compliance would determine amount Section 8 would subsidize until problem rectified)

- If next annual inspection relates to an indentified renter problem (i.e. - interior damage, items beyond normal wear and tear, appliance damage, toys in the heaters, plumbing clogged with things that don't flush, etc.), then renter pays  (maybe even a rating system applied to renters based on inspections - A through D rating, so you know who you are renting to, and Section 8 would then have to pony up more dough for D rated renters they want to subsidize, keeping the renters and Section 8 accountable)

The problem is there will be no equitable application, and it would remain one-sided against the landlord, with the heavy-hand of the goverment to pull the money out of the landlord's pocket for "perceived" violations.  If it were able to be appealed, you have not only added another layer to the court system, increasing costs which have to be paid for, but the program itself would have to be funded, not only for the inspectors, but the administrators, lawyers, enforcement personnel, administration of fines, etc.  ALL THAT HAVE TO BE PAID FOR (including annual salary, and expense increases, etc.).  Therefore, by necessity, more fines or more ways to fine would have to be applied or taxes raised as the costs have to be covered from somewhere...

If a renter CHOOSES to remain in an unlivable situation, that is their CHOICE.  Don't tell me that they couldn't move if they wanted to.  If the place they were living were condemned because of one of these inspections, they would have to move. 

I'm not saying that there is not a problem, nor am I saying there are not problem landlord's, but this is NOT the solution.  IMHO, with very few exceptions, ANYTIME the goverment gets involved in something like this, it becomes MORE of a problem...   

...and people are foolish enough to think that Socializing Health Care will not only increase their taxes, but lead to MORE of the problems they seek to "cure" and worse care to boot... Then you will have no goverment to complain to as they will be the ones providing the product; a product that is now mandatory, with, you guess it, fines for non-compliance.  Wait until they start those "inspections"...

"Those who would sacrifice Freedom for Security deserve neither"...  Benjamin Franklin

When the peope figure out they can vote themselves money, it will herald the end of the Republic"...Benjamin Franklin

"The urge to save humanity is almost always a false-front for the urge to rule."... H. L. Menken

[moneymatters]

If a consumer (or tenant) is not happy with the product (or place or dwelling) than get a different product (MOVE).

If Im not mistaken this is still America.  You are free to move about the city, state, country at will. 

As for the mandatory inspections, if the tenant has bad living conditions, that is an incentive for the occupants to move out. However the renters have renter’s rights in which they can withhold rent thus giving the owner to make the living conditions better.

I speak from the part of the renter; by the way, I have done both.  Withhold rent and move out.  2 different situations.

Bottom line.  The government should do 2 things, #1 provides a security for me and mine from domestic and foreign people, and #2 protect my money.   As far as Im concerned what more do you need?

[Beemnseven]

I'm a little late on the political discussion, but it's apparent that this November, we have 2 choices:  Socialism, or perpetual war.

The only alternative is to vote third party.  My choice?  Libertarian.