[extropy-chat] Re: riots in France

[Fred C. Moulton]

I think we should avoid focusing on this as just a "Muslim" issue.  From
the news reports I have seen it is more complex.  One feature to
consider is the differences in government policy in housing, work
regulations and taxation.

In the Tuesday Nov 8 Wall Street Journal there is an opinion piece by
Joel Kotkin titled "Our Immigrants, Their Immigrants" in which Kotkin
discusses issues such as possible discrimination, unemployment and
government social policy and how French government policies have
contributed to their problems.  In contrast Kotkin describes the more
open free-market, lower tax, lower regulation that is found in many
parts of the US where immigrants are a vibrant part of the social and
economic life of the area.

On a related note, in the Wall Street Journal Wednesday Nov 9 there is
an interesting article about the effect of real estate ownership on poor
people.  The article describes an area (a former dump) in Buenos Aires
Argentina which was taken over by poor people (about 1800 families) in
1981.  Through a variety of circumstances about half of them got title
to their lots (typically 30 ft by 100 ft).  All of the families started
with similar jobs, education, etc.  Now the families with title have
improved their homes, have children who are better educated, have a more
positive outlook on live, etc.  Just as Hernando de Soto has said and if
you have not read any of the works by Hernando de Soto I recommend that
you do.

Fred