[machinebun]

Well, I disagree with that, and if I can get enough people to agree with me, we can pass laws to make it unprofitable for people to buy out housing and have it sit empty.

Also known as passing laws to impose a penalty on unwanted behavior. Just as GP mentioned - vacancy tax.

That's how the country works. It all depends on who has more people in agreement, and can make more of a rallying cry (and has moneyed interests on their side).

(I'm also in favor of land value tax as opposed to property tax to encourage productive use of land. And severely relaxing zoning restrictions)

[chii]

> I can get enough people to agree with me, we can pass laws

while that's true in this case of vacancy laws, it is not a universally applicable rule to be followed blindly.

Just because a large number of people agreed with a certain set of actions, doesn't mean those set of actions are good to undertake for society. Look at how venezuela got to the place they did, via democratic elections. The a majority of the people wanted the gov't handouts, and wanted nationalization of private property by force.

[warrenm]

>Well, I disagree with that

Obviously you think that what I own is actually yours

At least we all know where you stand now

[Frondo]

Correct, because you live in a society and the society imposes some obligations and constraints on you, as all societies have done since the dawn of humanity.

[gambiting]

Honest question - are you writing these comments from like the depth of the Amazon jungle where laws don't apply? Because pretty much any civilized country in the world has laws that govern what you can or cannot do with your own private property, even the bastion of "freedom" that is US has loads of regulations about private property. If you live in a place like that and still think that you have some absolute control over actually yours property, then sadly, you are very mistaken.

So yes, I think we know where we stand now, except that it's not where you think it is.