Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Socialism at its finest

I’m investigating the Venezuelan Golf Course story.

From BBC News:
“The mayor of Venezuela's capital Caracas says he plans to expropriate two exclusive golf courses and use the land for homes for the city's poor. Mayor Juan Barreto has said playing golf on lavish courses within sight of the city's slums is "shameful".


… The golf courses - the Country Club and Valle Arriba club - are in the city's most affluent suburbs, home to millionaires, foreign diplomats and celebrities, and are seen by some as a haven for the rich.

They are also in districts run by the opposition.”

sniff, sniff. This smells of politicking.

(Full disclosure: I don’t play golf, but this has nothing to do with my politics, and everything to do with depth perception problems. The club either swings wildly, coming down a full 6 inches above the ball, or hits the ground with a jarring thud, causing a shoulder sprain. It ain’t a pretty sight.)

This being said, is there any group that is harder to feel sorry for than millionaires, foreign diplomats and celebrities who are members of private golf clubs? Really?

On the other hand, expropriation of private property is a bad thing. If the City turned up on my door and said: Scram! we’re tearing down your house to build homes for the poor, I’d be like, but, but. Buy my house for higher-than-market-value, fine, but don’t take my house.

I know, I know, nobody lives at the golf course, except some Venezuelan gophers, but still it is somebody’s private property. Throw these folks a bone, like, some nice tax cut or something. Then grab the land.

My favourite line in this story? The golf courses are “seen by some as a haven for the rich”. By some? Hey, pal, if they aren't seen by ALL as a haven for the rich, then what's the point of them?

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