Renters

We hear the phrase "the American dream of home ownership" so often that it makes me nauseous. Too many Americans forget that not all of us can be homeowners because some of us (like me) enjoy living in worthwhile places, and aren't suckered enough by this "dream" to be willing to move to the 'burbs. These days the biggest concern in economy-related news has been the mortgage crisis, which affects two entities in particular: people who feared renting so much that they overestimated their ability to buy, and enormous banking conglomerates that criminally deluded these poor fools into believing themselves able to pay for these unaffordable homes. As a renter, my reaction is "Well, too bad, suckers ... " We don't hear this cruel reply from elected officials, of course; instead we hear them exploit Americans' infatuation with ownership by talking about mortgage assistance and bank bailouts. As though mortgages weren't tax-advantaged enough! That's my tax money going to save some bank that m... Read more