[Marxism] Re: Housing

["Joseph Callahan" <joeandcaroline@xxxxxxx>]

   I think home ownership is conservatizing.  Frederick Engels wrote a booklet 
arguing this back in the 19th Century, I think it was called "On the Housing 
Question," or something like that.  Think about it like this, imagine the 
reaction of a worker who is making mortgage payments after a down payment, 
accumulating some equity etc., to the prospect of a long strike or the threat 
of being fired.  
    I don't think there is any question that the threat of losing "our house," 
gives a worker pause more so than the threat of eviction does to workers who 
are renting.  I'll confess I "bought" a house in '92.  The price of a mortgage 
payment at that time in Minneapolis was little more than rent.  I did so 
knowing it might impact my enthusiasm for going on a long strike.  
Unfortunately, I also knew that few workers in the U.S. are involved in long 
strikes.  
    Now that we mention it, that is probably in part due to the home ownership, 
but I would say it is much more due to the lack of political and union 
organization, the lack of class consciousness, and the passivity of the unions 
that do exist.  

Joe Callahan
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