@jamesinbrussels.bsky.social
Another thing that has radicalised him of course is the French billionaire adventurers starting to fund think tanks and media publications promoting far right bile and he is their conduit.
December 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Another thing that has radicalised him of course is the French billionaire adventurers starting to fund think tanks and media publications promoting far right bile and he is their conduit.
Im not so sure, a lot of people just decide their politics based off of a reel these days, and he has mastered that art. But yes, because he thinks the other place is representative of the electorate as a whole he's gonna snooker himself and hit a ceiling.
December 4, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Im not so sure, a lot of people just decide their politics based off of a reel these days, and he has mastered that art. But yes, because he thinks the other place is representative of the electorate as a whole he's gonna snooker himself and hit a ceiling.
He is apparently addicted to social media. No joke.
December 4, 2025 at 11:04 AM
He is apparently addicted to social media. No joke.
She has no CV to be a university rector but now we know what her real asset was : getting the big contracts off the EU. How are other universities supposed to compete if CoE graduates set the terms? Whole place needs a root and branch culture change.
December 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
She has no CV to be a university rector but now we know what her real asset was : getting the big contracts off the EU. How are other universities supposed to compete if CoE graduates set the terms? Whole place needs a root and branch culture change.
Et portant l'affaire de la crèche de la grand place fait plus de buzz et de unes des journaux...
December 1, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Et portant l'affaire de la crèche de la grand place fait plus de buzz et de unes des journaux...
unemployed become paid civil servants who get to go "touch grass" at certain times of the day exploring different properties to see if theyre used. When I was long term unemployed my psychologist recommended this practice to me. It'll be far better for their health than being online. I shud b a spad
November 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
unemployed become paid civil servants who get to go "touch grass" at certain times of the day exploring different properties to see if theyre used. When I was long term unemployed my psychologist recommended this practice to me. It'll be far better for their health than being online. I shud b a spad
Absolutely agree, that's what I meant.
November 14, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Absolutely agree, that's what I meant.
The idea is you have consistent enough check up to avoid a situation like Spanish tax exiles in Andorra leaving the lights on all year round in an empty home. You check if the owner of the property uses it or is speculating on it. A more "thought through" policy was the Dementia Tax imo. It failed.
November 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
The idea is you have consistent enough check up to avoid a situation like Spanish tax exiles in Andorra leaving the lights on all year round in an empty home. You check if the owner of the property uses it or is speculating on it. A more "thought through" policy was the Dementia Tax imo. It failed.
They just need to ring the doorbell
November 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
They just need to ring the doorbell
They have to check if the people (or indeed any people) actually live there. That's my mission for them.
November 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
They have to check if the people (or indeed any people) actually live there. That's my mission for them.
Well the social housing would be an excellent start indeed. But repossession of land to build it might be necessary...LVT might incentives land hoarders and speculators to sell up and put their capital to a better use. Enjoy your Friday night I'm a big fan of your work and pods with Armin
November 14, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Well the social housing would be an excellent start indeed. But repossession of land to build it might be necessary...LVT might incentives land hoarders and speculators to sell up and put their capital to a better use. Enjoy your Friday night I'm a big fan of your work and pods with Armin
No they just have to ring doorbells every day. If they need the motivation i will send them Alec Baldwins Glengarry Glen Ross speech and say this is the man profiting off your unemployment. As for the drones it's mostly for large estates. The military need some practice with them so why not?
November 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
No they just have to ring doorbells every day. If they need the motivation i will send them Alec Baldwins Glengarry Glen Ross speech and say this is the man profiting off your unemployment. As for the drones it's mostly for large estates. The military need some practice with them so why not?
But yes I take your points on board. I just think its absurd that there'll be anti-innovation and actual entrepreneurship measures while slum landlords, despite the Renters Bill, will continue to believe house prices must go one way. Up. And our generation can continue paying them obscene rent.
November 14, 2025 at 4:12 PM
But yes I take your points on board. I just think its absurd that there'll be anti-innovation and actual entrepreneurship measures while slum landlords, despite the Renters Bill, will continue to believe house prices must go one way. Up. And our generation can continue paying them obscene rent.
We have drones now. We have a housing crisis too that requires a huge national effort to rectify. We have young people unemployed who can be employed by the state to inspect if land is not being speculated on and roofs are actually being used to house people as God intended and not Airbnb. Its 2025
November 14, 2025 at 4:10 PM
We have drones now. We have a housing crisis too that requires a huge national effort to rectify. We have young people unemployed who can be employed by the state to inspect if land is not being speculated on and roofs are actually being used to house people as God intended and not Airbnb. Its 2025
What about a land value tax Rob? I didn't think you'd be the type to side with the British aristocracy and Blackrock. I don't think its a fantasy to expect people with land assets to contribute during a housing shortage. And if they're asset rich cash poor, sell up!
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 PM
What about a land value tax Rob? I didn't think you'd be the type to side with the British aristocracy and Blackrock. I don't think its a fantasy to expect people with land assets to contribute during a housing shortage. And if they're asset rich cash poor, sell up!
At the very least, present the idea that playing "Flip That House" and investing in property to let it out might be a risky investment : make them watch "99 homes" and Michael Shannon's rants in it. Otherwise they'll continue to have the entitled belief that "the housing market must always go up".
November 14, 2025 at 3:36 PM
At the very least, present the idea that playing "Flip That House" and investing in property to let it out might be a risky investment : make them watch "99 homes" and Michael Shannon's rants in it. Otherwise they'll continue to have the entitled belief that "the housing market must always go up".
The State used to provide much more social housing. Social housing used to be a competitor to keep the private sector on its toes and for people who are in a transition period. Its now a "last resort" sort of thing. As for everyone playing "Flip That House"...I present to you the 2008 GFC...
November 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The State used to provide much more social housing. Social housing used to be a competitor to keep the private sector on its toes and for people who are in a transition period. Its now a "last resort" sort of thing. As for everyone playing "Flip That House"...I present to you the 2008 GFC...
"Banning landlords" and paradigm shift sounds radical BTW but the reality is a lot of landlords could actually stand to benefit if their capital was placed elsewhere. The whole economy would stand to benefit too, more capital for actual entrepreneurs, more disposable income...
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
"Banning landlords" and paradigm shift sounds radical BTW but the reality is a lot of landlords could actually stand to benefit if their capital was placed elsewhere. The whole economy would stand to benefit too, more capital for actual entrepreneurs, more disposable income...
I will bet you my (eventual) second home that if prices do go down suddenly landlords will be up in arms. They were told that property can only go up, so government will make sure it only goes down in real terms (still good) adjusted to inflation (bad for everyone).
November 14, 2025 at 2:25 PM
I will bet you my (eventual) second home that if prices do go down suddenly landlords will be up in arms. They were told that property can only go up, so government will make sure it only goes down in real terms (still good) adjusted to inflation (bad for everyone).
Until then why should landlords profit from an arguably artificially high rent and property prices? I'll believe the 1 million homes when I see it.
November 14, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Until then why should landlords profit from an arguably artificially high rent and property prices? I'll believe the 1 million homes when I see it.
I think the Renters Bill is great but I would like a paradigm shift.
November 14, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I think the Renters Bill is great but I would like a paradigm shift.
Landlord lobby. Pretty much ever present and extremely powerful.
November 13, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Landlord lobby. Pretty much ever present and extremely powerful.
When you look at how land is distributed in the UK you do wonder why Labour don't focus more on an LVT style measure but then you remember they barely have any renters on the front bench and a few actual slum landlords on the backbenches.
November 13, 2025 at 10:47 PM
When you look at how land is distributed in the UK you do wonder why Labour don't focus more on an LVT style measure but then you remember they barely have any renters on the front bench and a few actual slum landlords on the backbenches.
Not to mention, many of them cumulate their regional parliament salary with several other jobs! Belgium lightyears behind other democracies with these kind of practices and conflicts of interests
November 12, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Not to mention, many of them cumulate their regional parliament salary with several other jobs! Belgium lightyears behind other democracies with these kind of practices and conflicts of interests