[refurb]

It seems like "rents" has become the latest political buzzword. I see it used incorrectly to label something as "bad", but it makes the person using the word sound educated and sophisticated.

It's losing it's impact.

[desireco42]

I feel like he defined the term quite a bit before he used it. It does describe very specific way of earning income.

[aaronchall]

If it's a very specific way of earning income, isn't the income, thus, earned?

[the_gastropod]

That depends on what the definition of "earned" is: "obtained" or "gained deservedly". I think this is an example of the former definition.

[phaus]

The word has been used when discussing the politics of economics for over a century.

[refurb]

Yes, and it typically includes things like the excess salary earning by trade guilds and unions. Interesting how he didn't mention that, did he?