one proof of my point is that when there is a demonstration people who behave like psychotics are tolerated and herded along, whereas if an individual did the same thing on his own he would be shot.

Humans have a lot of rights they never take advantage of.

I think squatting in an abandoned building is over rated. I squatted in a park, and after the initial rush of “sticking it to the man” and not being forced to pay rent, it was kind of lonely.

In Russia as the Soviet Union was collapsing there was a lot of squatting going on. It works better in large numbers. If everyone is doing it is OK. There are lots of squatters in Cuba, too, I understand.

But bottom line is that the best squatting situation its still camping out and having less ammenities and kind of being sneaky. Putting up with decay and increasingly ugly surroundings. I doubt most squatters take as much prides in their environment as owners. If you have other squatter type people over they will mess it up faster.

The reasons why, while obvious after one has asked the question to oneself in the privacy of one’s own thoughts, are rarely discussed publicly.

without abandoned buildings, where would the evil villains, henchmen, and the Tyler Durdens live?

http://www.timboucher.com/journal/2005/12/09/word-origin-villain/

In the U.S., and historically speaking, probably everywhere, private property rights trump human rights.

Why?

Because the land, when in responsible hands, predictably produces wealth, whereas excess humans cause all kinds of problems.

Good point!

I see overthrowing all hierarchy and free market capitalism as maybe a seperate goal.

Yeah, I’m not really talking about overthrowing anything though. I agree with your point about finding ways to make initiatives like this profitable.

Urban farming … if we could just figure out how to grow unsalted yet crunchy Lays and Doritos products (salt them later) then something might happen.

I am just throwing ideas out there. The idea I am after is coming up with green bussiness ideas that are actually green and actually profitible.

I am just thinking it would be nice to see the earth getting greener and greener and less dependant on fossil fuel, but I see overthrowing all hierarchy and free market capitalism as maybe a seperate goal.

The farmers could use the privately-owned land, as part of a settlement, until they couldn’t. In my mind, it was a cruel thing, because they were there for years and had invested a great deal of energy in the land. But, they didn’t own it . . . so.

In any case, the owners probably thought they were doing a good thing, because they would charge anyone else rent to use their property.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Central_Farm

In the U.S., and historically speaking, probably everywhere, private property rights trump human rights.

Why?

Because the land, when in responsible hands, predictably produces wealth, whereas excess humans cause all kinds of problems.

Humans come and go; the land remains, and those who control it reap the wealth. Control is by tradition, hereditary.

The working poor are divested of land by raising property taxes during economically difficult periods.

In the U.S., the latest trick is “eminent domain,” which is politically-connected private parties using the government as a fig leaf to take the land of less-connected, or weaker private parties, although occasionally, as with a military base, the government may actually develop the land. However, private contractors get to do the building and supplying.

Additionally, the government frequently rents private property for its offices.

Why is growing food a crime, but letting perfectly usable land go to waste not?

Because you can’t charge property taxes on land without a registered owner. And, you would have a hard time changing the zoning rules to allow agriculture due to the effect the zoning change will have on the value of surrounding properties. That’s why you only see it being done in what are essentially abandoned sections of cities. Thanks for the Chicago link. I hadn’t heard about them.