x-punk
29th August 2012, 13:12
Here in the UK, as in most of Europe, there is a land use planning system which controls the use of land. Tied into this are numerous other environmental regulations which control how land and the users of land operate.
Although regulation such as this can be seen by many as desirable as it acts to stop certain land uses which could be detrimental to surrounding areas, it is inherently restrictive on the creation of wealth in this capitalist economy which requires ever increasing growth. This problems of this jarring contradiction are very evident now in this significant economic downturn. Capitalism is stalling, wealth creation in the economy is low, unemployment is rampantly increasing yet there is a system in place which limits how land can be used restricting wealth creating uses which could help to alleviate these problems. Yet letting capitalism run wild developing land could have horrific environmental consequences.
My first question is do fellow posters see such government regulation as being desirable or do they think such regulation should be lessened under the current system?
I appreciate that this problem may be symptomatic of capitalism and land ownership in general but do you feel similar problems could occur under a socialist system? I appreciate there wouldnt be the rampant drive for profit and growth but how would land use be controlled, if at all, under a socialist system. If people have free access to natural resources and land could this result in much 'undesirable' development?
My own opinions are that currently, at least in the uk, govt regulation in this area is way too much. As much as i detest capitalism, it is currently what we are stuck with and watching the govt restrict the use of land which could potentially create jobs and enliven areas is awful. I appreciate that some of these developments could have environmental consequences but i think that many of those currently restricted developments the damage would be mostly negligible. Moreover, these regulations seem to favour the larger companies with for example the large housebuilders getting large swathes of land zoned for future developments wheras someone trying to start a small business gets floored with restrictive regulations.
As for into a future socialist system, i would like to hope that with land being in common ownership that developments would take place for the benefit of everyone in the area. Thus there would be no need for restrictive regulations.
Although regulation such as this can be seen by many as desirable as it acts to stop certain land uses which could be detrimental to surrounding areas, it is inherently restrictive on the creation of wealth in this capitalist economy which requires ever increasing growth. This problems of this jarring contradiction are very evident now in this significant economic downturn. Capitalism is stalling, wealth creation in the economy is low, unemployment is rampantly increasing yet there is a system in place which limits how land can be used restricting wealth creating uses which could help to alleviate these problems. Yet letting capitalism run wild developing land could have horrific environmental consequences.
My first question is do fellow posters see such government regulation as being desirable or do they think such regulation should be lessened under the current system?
I appreciate that this problem may be symptomatic of capitalism and land ownership in general but do you feel similar problems could occur under a socialist system? I appreciate there wouldnt be the rampant drive for profit and growth but how would land use be controlled, if at all, under a socialist system. If people have free access to natural resources and land could this result in much 'undesirable' development?
My own opinions are that currently, at least in the uk, govt regulation in this area is way too much. As much as i detest capitalism, it is currently what we are stuck with and watching the govt restrict the use of land which could potentially create jobs and enliven areas is awful. I appreciate that some of these developments could have environmental consequences but i think that many of those currently restricted developments the damage would be mostly negligible. Moreover, these regulations seem to favour the larger companies with for example the large housebuilders getting large swathes of land zoned for future developments wheras someone trying to start a small business gets floored with restrictive regulations.
As for into a future socialist system, i would like to hope that with land being in common ownership that developments would take place for the benefit of everyone in the area. Thus there would be no need for restrictive regulations.