patrick.net

Sunnyvale_Renter, you have a point. However, Christianity is not really meant to be materialistic. Isn't it ironic that the Soviet was materialistic by doctrine and they collapsed?

Harm,

I've never heard of the inv. club your co-worker refers to above but I'm sure we've all been to a "tent meeting" just like it at some point. They get novices all hot and bothered but then the club decides that in order to make this "bullet proof model" to work they need to go over SLC and Dallas? What does that tell you right there?

I am by no means a lic. Realtor TM and confine most of my activities to equity trading but clients come to me w/regularity on RE issues. I take great pains not to portray myself as a RE expert but they seem to appreciate a "Bear's" take on things. "I'm being pressured on all sides, PLEASE talk me out of this"! I am currently working with a client that is trying to make sense of positioning a "rental portfolio". We have been through the math you describe above repeatedly and just can't seem to make rentals pencil out, and that's in Oregon! Wrongly or rightly I've always described aquiring a rental or business, say, a laundramat more like "buying a job" than an investment. Have I been wrong all these years?

newsfreak,

That's something I just can't hear enough of! Why work, innovate or otherwise create value when we can have a perfectly "viable" economy just flipping properties back and forth to one another? Sounds like a hawker at the carnival, everyone's a winner! Patrick posted a great article and you might have to go back a bit but I believe it was called "THE UNITED STATES OF REAL ESTATE". Very funny author. I have no problems with an individual that employs professionals and COMPLETES a meaningful restoration on a property with the expectation of a reasonable profit. Sadly that's become the exception. What I've seen more times than not (judging from experience) has been half-assed attempts where it was obvious that this is where the money ran out so we just pulled the plug and put it on the market. Mostly superficial fluff done more with an eye toward curb appeal than any real substance or long term benefit.

Remodeling is an art! It takes years of experience and a lengthy and well mentored apprenticeship. It's a lifetime commitment not a weekend fling. What amazes me is how few Americans today can seem to tell the difference!

I may get flamed for saying this, but what's wrong with being a little materialistic? Yes, the psychology of extreme greed is playing a key role in the bubble right now, but in my view it's ignorance of the fundamentals and reckless government policy that are most to blame, not materialism alone.

I don't see religious fundamentalism/anti-secularism as necessarily being the "cure" to all modern ills, any more than it "cured" society's problems in medieval or ancient times. On the contrary, religious extremism and blind opposition to all forms of technological or social change often creates more problems than it solves. Call me crazy, but bubble or not, I think we're all much better off as individuals and as a society than we would be under a theocracy or a government that promotes slavery.

OTH, I agree that most religions (in moderate/mainstream forms) can provide a moral anchor and glue which helps bind communities together by promoting ideals like charity and caring for the common good. Social darwinism in its purest form is no more an ideal form of society than Taliban-style theocracy.

But my point is, the US’s population overall could be much better off under the type of moderate Islam the US could end up under, than under the Jewish/Christian regime they suffer under now.

History would suggest: the less any government enforces any religious viewpoint, the better. Any overriding theocracy, or culture based on one religion, has the inevitable tendency of limiting the potential of its citizens. Anyone remember the dark ages?

Btw, I do have religious views, just not the boring institutional variety.

I may get flamed for saying this, but what’s wrong with being a little materialistic?

HARM-
Yeah...to a degree, materialism tends to motivate--provided there are ample opportunities. However, materialsm and poor economic opportunity induces social unrest. I suspect this is why some countries enforce a theocracy: to "keep their citizenry clean from the ills of western materialsm". In other words, so the rules can sit on their fat, rich asses and keep the status quo.

Sunnyvale_Renter Says:

"But my point is, the US’s population overall could be much better off under the type of moderate Islam the US could end up under, than under the Jewish/Christian regime they suffer under now."

I don't agree that what we are"suffering" under a Jewish/Christian regime. We're suffering because we are being led away from Judeo/Christianity by the secular progressive libs.

Where I do agree in your assessment of moderate Islam is that Christians might fare better under a moderate democratic Islamic society, if one existed--although Christians would be 2nd class citizens--than, say, for instance under a radical, progressive society like San Francisco if it
were to expanded to the size of a state or country.

The liberal progs in San Fran. HATE Judeo/Christian values and see them as homophobic, obscurantist, sexist, capitalistic, superstitious, classist, oppressive, paternalistic, fascistic, racist, etc. etc. etc.

Moderate Islam looks like a friggen' paragon of sanity compared to the left-wing, liberal Taliban feifdom of insanity in places like Berkeley or San Francisco.

History would suggest: the less any government enforces any religious viewpoint, the better.

Absolutely. A secular government works the best.

I suspect this is why some countries enforce a theocracy: to “keep their citizenry clean from the ills of western materialsm”. In other words, so the rulers can sit on their fat, rich asses and keep the status quo.

Exactly. I've (thankfully) never had to live under a theocracy or another form of autocratic rule, but my guess is the people who desire it are mainly those at the top of the social pyramid (mullahs, priests, brahamin, rabbis, etc.). Those at the bottom tend to be less than enthusiastic about the strict limitations imposed and lack of personal/economic freedoms.

SQT Says:

"I can’t figure out how Christianity has become linked with materialism on a housing blog."

"Thou shalt not steal" is a direct reference to Christianity. I don't see how you can separate Christianity from it's association with the material world.

Moderation is a Rennaissance virtue.

Moderate Islam looks like a friggen’ paragon of sanity compared to the left-wing, liberal Taliban feifdom of insanity in places like Berkeley or San Francisco.

Interesting choice in likening "left-wing liberals" as some form of Talibanism. I'd happily take that version over the one exercised in Afghanistan. :)

I can’t figure out how Christianity has become linked with materialism

Yes, interesting thread drift. However, I'll offer the idea that modern christianity is inherently materialistic. Not just in the sense of "money", but in its overriding philosophy: an emphasis on the tangible or measurable, vs. internal or reflective. But, I'll stop here because it's a subject better discussed elsewhere.

This I agree with completely. I can’t recall ever going to church and hearing materialism listed as a virtue, and for the life of me I can’t figure out how Christianity has become linked with materialism on a housing blog.

I can't recall materialism in church either. I actually remember the priest scolding people for using phrases like "happy holidays" and "season's greetings".

Only communist countries preach materialism. I think we are seeing consumerism rather than materialism here.

“Thou shalt not steal” is a direct reference to Christianity. I don’t see how you can separate Christianity from it’s association with the material world.

Moderation is a Rennaissance virtue.

True. Good point.

Weird, I can't seem post anything longer than two sentences. Peter P can you check on this? thanks.

Keep trying to post the same comment (no quotes symbols or any other suspicious characters), but nothing takes. Odd.

HARM, I do not see you in moderation though. Can you try again? We did you see when you post?

This is really frustrating --I've even tried breaking it in smaller pieces, but it's failed to post a good dozen times now. I may have to email it to you Peter.

KurtS Says:

"Interesting choice in likening 'left-wing liberals' as some form of Talibanism. I’d happily take that version over the one exercised in Afghanistan."

Interesting indeed. The only people I've ever heard of that advocate
third-trimester abortions--and I won't get into the horrific details of what they do with a pair of scissors to a baby's head because this is a housing blog--are "progressives" or at least secular "Taliban" libs.

If the shoe fits...

This is really frustrating –I’ve even tried breaking it in smaller pieces, but it’s failed to post a good dozen times now. I may have to email it to you Peter.

Yup, please e-mail to me.

God help us if the only choices we have are between an extreme fundamentalist Taliban-style theocracy or an extreme left-wing Leninist dictatorship.

HARM, please replace & with &

God help us if the only choices we have are between an extreme fundamentalist Taliban-style theocracy or an extreme left-wing Leninist dictatorship.

Taliban means no pork. Lenin means no food. Neither is acceptable.

Peter P, tried eliminating ampersands, but still no dice. Emailed you the original post --thnaks.

I'm beginning to think that Wordpress may be filtering for specific keywords. I've literally broken the post down sentence by sentence and tried posting --no dice.

Perhaps...

I won’t get into the horrific details of what they do with a pair of scissors to a baby’s head because this is a housing blog–are “progressives” or at least secular “Taliban” libs.

Please don't. And for that matter, somehow connect liberalism with the Taliban.
Granted, there may be some extreme liberals, but that hardly "fits" the "shoe" of Taliban-style absolutism. The gap here is extreme: one plurality of viewpoints versus general autocracy of ideas.

I realize you're a radio talk host, a medium where words like "Taliban" can be used to touch an emotional nerve in your listeners, particularly towards people, lifestyles, or ideas foreign to them. But, the usage is hardly accurate. The same goes for the overuse of the word "Nazi". And, please let's not exhume that one again.

I suspect WW III will be about fuel, food, and bare necessities.

WW IV will be fought with bare necessities like "sticks and stones".

Please don’t. And for that matter, somehow connect liberalism with the Taliban.

Well, abortion in Taliban is not quite about women's right.

The same goes for the overuse of the word “Nazi”. And, please let’s not exhume that one again.

How about the Soup Nazi? :) Sorry...

How about the Soup Nazi? Sorry…

No soup for you! :)

“Materialism” in a philosophical context, or, specifically the type of materialism that *communism* addresses, is a completely different idea. It’s a philosophy that says, roughly speaking, that physical matter creates all reality. Words, thoughts, ideas, are all derived from the physical world. Do a google search on “dialectic materialism” or “marxist materialism”.

They may be different but they are very much linked. Dialectical materialism is quite similar to darwinism. Perhaps it is useful to see how historical materialism affects the Marxist view of economics and production.

KurtS Says:

"I Please don’t. And for that matter, somehow connect liberalism with the Taliban. Granted, there may be some extreme liberals, but that hardly “fits” the “shoe” of Taliban-style absolutism. The gap here is extreme: one plurality of viewpoints versus general autocracy of ideas."

I'm surprised the metaphor escapes you Kurt. Taliban is a metaphor for extremism. That a "plurality of viewpoints" by both liberals and Taliban lead to the "autocracy of ideas" that make both chopping off adult heads and baby heads possible should be stark.

There isn't much theoretical or practical difference the "plurality of viewpoints" as to when life begins (therefore, when it ends for the liberal abortionist) and the "autocracy of ideas" if the reductio ad absurdem of the ideal is the grave.

But, then again, as I say on my show: liberalism is a psychosis!

There isn’t much theoretical or practical difference between the “plurality of viewpoints” as to when life begins (therefore, when it ends for the liberal abortionist) and the “autocracy of ideas” if the reductio ad absurdem of the ideal is the grave.

Added correction of word "between."

Looks like we have the uncanny ability to stray off topic.

I understand that it is not easy to focus on the bursting bubble when it approaches certainty and immediacy. It is like talking about the sunny weather in early-summer.

I’m surprised the metaphor escapes you Kurt. Taliban is a metaphor for extremism. That a “plurality of viewpoints” by both liberals and Taliban lead to the “autocracy of ideas” that make both chopping off adult heads and baby heads possible should be stark.

Thanks for explaining these stark truths to me; what would I do without you?
The fact that you choose to use Taliban when describing extremes of liberalism makes the comparison accurate only by your viewpoint. I just think it's a nasty-sounding word you enjoy using.

Sorry all for "clogging the blog". I'm done.

Talking about the bubble for a change. As far as I can see, Bay Area is draining fast from buyers. My best engineer just resigned. He's going to Reno. Two of my wife's best friends have moved out to Portland and Wisconsin. Another friend is planning to move to East Coast this March.
It's getting freaking lonely here.

And the main reason to move for everybody is ... HOUSING PRICES.

They do not worship God nor trust in Christ.

Ahh religion, I love religion, makes perfect sense if you are living in the year of our lord 1040 ad. You see, it's perfect, don't worry about the king molesting your daughter, the open sores on your body, your hunger, because, now get this, if you behave and trust in Jeebus, when you DIE, you will go to heaven. Makes perfect sense now too, don't worry about the anal pounding you receive daily, just keep your head down and trust that when you die you and Jeebus will be chillin proper in Heaven, the white heaven that is.

Most people think great God will come from the sky
Take away ev'rything, and make ev'rybody feel high
But if you know what life is worth
You would look for yours on earth
And now you see the light
You stand up for your right, yeah!

B. Marley.

Suck it long,
Suck it hard.

Surfer-X

Each and every one of us is unique and complex creature.

Does someone need a hug? :)

I think Surfer-X has lost his frijoles.

I simply don't know what to make of his last post, but it's seems pretty zany.

Yawn...num, num, num...I'm sleepy.

East California Says: (quoting me, by the way):

"...'Thou shalt not steal' is a direct reference to Christianity. I don’t see how you can separate Christianity from it’s association with the material world."

"That is because you are an anti-Christian nut case who is fishing for a reason to hate the United States’ founding, historical, and traditional religion."

Wha-?

East Cali, I'm a conservative talk host. I think you read my quote out of context. Scroll up and read my pro-Christian, anti-abortion post, or at least use my quote in context.

We're on the same side, dude.

Makes Surfer-X's ranting post look almost sane.

I think this market is affecting people marbles...people seem to be losing them a bit lately.

Perhaps even me...

That is because you are an anti-Christian nut case who is fishing for a reason to hate the United States’ founding, historical, and traditional religion.

Fuck fuck fuckity fuck, ok for the last time,

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Tradional religion? Kiss my mother fucking ass :) Ok here's how it goes, good for you and your love of Jeebus, that's nice, but just because you're born again doesn't entitle you to twice as many rights.