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Antiwork

Problems with Rent (and the irony of capitalism)

I had a conversation earlier today. It got me thinking about wealth, and how we build it over time. The market has been shifting towards services, rather than ownership. Housing as a service, software as a service, transport as a service, etc. This is something capitalism seems to favor. When you buy a house or car, that money doesn't disappear from your net worth completely. You're trading money for something that's worth money. Even if is worth 20% less when you move, you keep 80% of what you spent. When you rent something, you lose 100% of what you spend. While owners are adding to their net worth, renters stay flat. I feel like a lot of people don't think of this when they tell you to save money. If you're not spending enough money in capitalism, you don't 'move up'. It's a bit ironic isn't it? At it's most…


I had a conversation earlier today. It got me thinking about wealth, and how we build it over time. The market has been shifting towards services, rather than ownership. Housing as a service, software as a service, transport as a service, etc.

This is something capitalism seems to favor. When you buy a house or car, that money doesn't disappear from your net worth completely. You're trading money for something that's worth money. Even if is worth 20% less when you move, you keep 80% of what you spent.

When you rent something, you lose 100% of what you spend. While owners are adding to their net worth, renters stay flat. I feel like a lot of people don't think of this when they tell you to save money. If you're not spending enough money in capitalism, you don't 'move up'.

It's a bit ironic isn't it? At it's most efficient, you don't own anything in capitalism. Isn't that supposed to be the bull shit argument against communism/socialism?

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