Rent Strike Will Become Psychological Nemesis

[Matthew McNeil]

I’ve read a few articles reporting that the idea of Rent Strike(s) is gaining momentum. Apparently, advocates have moved past a request seeking deferred payments, or other options, to simply demanding that rent be waived altogether.

My concern is that regardless of whatever is offered in an attempt to explain that LLs have obligations as well, emotions are going to feed this issue and automatic unchallenged waivers of rent will be demanded by tenants on a massive national scale.

In other words, the logic used to counter the argument will not be tolerated.  It will become an emotion-fed entrenched position by tenants.  

[Nathan Gesner]

This is a common response from someone that is controlled by emotion. You made that statement without first attempting to learn about me. I did grow up poor. My dad died when I was six, raised by a single mom on government cheese, powdered milk, and most of my clothes were hand-me-downs and garage sale finds. I started working in the fields at age 12, right next to illegal immigrants, so I could afford school supplies. All my family grew up in trailers. I thought college and skiing was only for rich kids and never imagined I could be better. I lived paycheck-to-paycheck. I racked up credit card debt. In other words, I knew poverty, embraced it as my reality, and continued making decisions that ensured I stayed there. One day I looked around and realized I wasn't being held down by society or rich people or my circumstances; I was held captive by limiting beliefs and poor choices.

Government handouts have nothing to do with the topic. Two wrongs don't make a right.

A large number of (mostly) low-income wage earners are demanding free rent even though they are likely to make more money, not less, due to the COVID pandemic. If that offends you, feel free to open your rentals up to some low-income people, give them a few months of free rent, and how that ends for you.