Interesting X (Twitter) thread for The Corral
- The Longhorn Corral
- 5 Replies
Culture Critic
@Culture_CritNov 1 • 14 tweets • 5 min read • Read on X
Ancient Greek thinkers like Socrates and Plato hated democratic elections.
They saw democracy as part of an endless cycle of regimes — destined to slip into mob rule.
But Polybius knew how to break the cycle... (thread) 🧵
Socrates likened the state to a ship. The uneducated voting in elections is like a ship taken over by a crew with no knowledge of sailing.
When selecting a captain, the crew is easily swayed by whoever is best at persuasion — not navigation.
Voting, thought Socrates, is a skill to be learned.
In Plato's 5 forms of government, democracy ranks only above tyranny, which it will inevitably become.
Why?
Systems that maximize freedom and equality lead us to pursue selfish pleasures, not the common good.
When votes are cast based not on what is good, but what is desired by the masses, demagogues emerge.
Like the ship, he with the best rhetoric wins by playing on selfish interests and emotions, not reason.
Once in charge, he creates a system of dependancy: "He is always stirring up some war so that the people may be in need of a leader..."
So, Plato thought the ideal system was aristocracy.
Voting should be a profession like any other, and only those with expertise should participate. Those with knowledge of "good" (the philosophers) should rule.
But Plato admitted this too is doomed to fail. When aristocratic rulers are no longer motivated purely by reason, but prioritize public approval, things fall apart again.
200 years later, a man named Polybius proposed a brilliant solution...
Polybius argued that regimes were in an endless cycle, and the three basic forms of government are destined to degenerate into their lower forms — and lead back to anarchy.
But there's a way to fix it...
To break the cycle, you need to combine elements of each system. Polybius admired this in the Roman Republic:
Consuls (monarch-like leaders), Senate (aristocratic body), and Assemblies (democratic element).
This idea of separation of powers was developed by Montesquieu, and led ultimately to the American system devised by the Founding Fathers:
The Presidency (monarch-like), the Senate (aristocratic) and the House (democratic) — plus the Judiciary to add balance.
There isn't a true aristocratic element (by birth or wealth), but Senators are in some sense.
They have longer terms than representatives, represent states not populations, and were originally chosen by state legislatures, not the public (until 1913).
Going back to Socrates, his concern was that democracies are unsafe in the hands of ordinary people.
But instead of a privileged voting class, he wanted everyone to think rationally enough to become worthy of participating.
Democracy, he thought, is only as good as the education system surrounding it — and Jefferson had much the same concern:
"If a nation expects to be ignorant & free, in a state of civilisation, it expects what never was & never will be".
Austin now 'ground zero' for property market crash...
- By dankhorn
- Inside the 40 Acres
- 0 Replies
Any thoughts on the article below from the OB real estate crew
Thriving music city that's now 'ground zero' for a property market crash
...Austin has become 'ground zero' for the downturn of the once-booming property market in Texas, a housing expert says. The value of houses in the city are down a 20 percent since their pandemic peak, Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said...
Thriving music city that's now 'ground zero' for a property market crash
...Austin has become 'ground zero' for the downturn of the once-booming property market in Texas, a housing expert says. The value of houses in the city are down a 20 percent since their pandemic peak, Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said...
Austin has become 'ground zero' for the downturn of the once-booming property market in Texas, a housing expert says.
The value of houses in the city are down a 20 percent since their pandemic peak, Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said.
Meanwhile, he says the number of homes for sale is on the up. When housing supply outweighs demand, prices tend to fall - so values may drop even more.
'Listings are now over 10,000, compared to 7,000 before the pandemic,' he wrote in a post on social media site X. 'Huge supply.'
The property guru has a grim warning for others in the state: Dallas could be next.
In part due to thriving tech and music industries in the city and low state taxes, Austin has seen an influx of new residents in recent years - a trend which accelerated during the pandemic.
+4
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Austin has become 'ground zero' for the downturn of the once-booming property market in the state, a housing expert has claimed
Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said the value of houses in Austin are down almost 20 percent since the pandemic peak
The population of the greater Austin area surged from 1.6 million in 2013 to 2.3 million in 2023, according to TheStreet.
That is now thought to be in reverse.
The influx of new residents prompted a rush in homebuilding, but demand is now failing to keep pace with supply -pushing house prices down.
The influx of so many people into Austin also drove up house prices.
After the pandemic, as the number of people looking to move diminished, demand for homes also fell - especially as the city was no longer affordable for many Americans.
While Gerli pointed out Austin is the epicenter of the housing downturn, the problem is also state-wide.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmon...t-real-estate-market.html?ico=related-replace
'Texas housing supply has spiked to highest level since at least 2017,' he wrote on X.
Active listings are up 25 percent year-on-year, he said, 'and a massive 263 percent from the pandemic low.
'Texas is no longer in an inventory shortage. And is now over-supplied.'
Dallas is another market which is starting to get hit, Gerli said, with home values down around three to five percent since pandemic highs.
The Reventure CEO said he believes the reason for the huge rise in homes for sale in Texas is because homebuilders and investors are beginning to 'liquidate out of this market.'
In other words, they are beginning to sell up as they are not earning money on homes due to high property taxes and stagnating rents.
'Builders are needing to do big mark downs to sell houses, which is hurting the resale market,' he added.
It comes after warnings that the Texan condo market - in particular - is teetering on the edge of a Florida-style crisis as sales decline in major cities.
The population of the wider city of Austin soared from 1.6 million in 2013 to 2.3 million in 2023 (Pictured: Suburb neighborhood of East Austin)
Austin's popularity sparked a surge in homebuilding, but the inventory is not being met by strong demand, experts say
In part due to thriving tech and music industries in the city and low state taxes, Austin has seen an influx of new residents in recent years - a trend which accelerated during the pandemic
Unsold homes are piling up in Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas, as high insurance costs and destructive natural disasters make condos a tough sell, data from Redfin released earlier this year shows.
It comes as Florida faces a catastrophic real estate crisis, which is seeing condo listings skyrocket as desperate owners try to flee.
The number of condos for sale in Florida increased by 53 percent in the year to July, according to Redfin.
But the Lone Star State is quickly catching up - with a 42 percent rise in that time.
In Fort Worth, listings have increased 65.4 percent and sales have fallen 33.3 percent.
Meanwhile in Dallas, the number of condos for sale is up 61.7 percent, and in Austin listings have surged by 28.6 percent.
Frequent and intense natural disasters in Texas - as in Florida - are a major factor in surging home insurance costs. In turn, this contributes to surging HOA fees in condo buildings, as maintenance costs are passed on to unit owners.
Those rising costs, along with the danger of being caught in a natural disaster itself, are scaring off condo buyers and motivating owners to sell, Redfin said.
Texas has been hit by extreme weather this year - including the largest wildfire in the state's history, flooding, tropical storms and deadly Hurricane Beryl.
Real estate investors have also backed off from buying condos. Instead, those who bought the properties to rent them out a few years ago are now trying to offload them.
The value of houses in the city are down a 20 percent since their pandemic peak, Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said.
Meanwhile, he says the number of homes for sale is on the up. When housing supply outweighs demand, prices tend to fall - so values may drop even more.
'Listings are now over 10,000, compared to 7,000 before the pandemic,' he wrote in a post on social media site X. 'Huge supply.'
The property guru has a grim warning for others in the state: Dallas could be next.
In part due to thriving tech and music industries in the city and low state taxes, Austin has seen an influx of new residents in recent years - a trend which accelerated during the pandemic.
+4
View gallery
Austin has become 'ground zero' for the downturn of the once-booming property market in the state, a housing expert has claimed
Nick Gerli, CEO of real estate data platform Reventure App, said the value of houses in Austin are down almost 20 percent since the pandemic peak
The population of the greater Austin area surged from 1.6 million in 2013 to 2.3 million in 2023, according to TheStreet.
That is now thought to be in reverse.
The influx of new residents prompted a rush in homebuilding, but demand is now failing to keep pace with supply -pushing house prices down.
The influx of so many people into Austin also drove up house prices.
After the pandemic, as the number of people looking to move diminished, demand for homes also fell - especially as the city was no longer affordable for many Americans.
While Gerli pointed out Austin is the epicenter of the housing downturn, the problem is also state-wide.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/yourmon...t-real-estate-market.html?ico=related-replace
'Texas housing supply has spiked to highest level since at least 2017,' he wrote on X.
Active listings are up 25 percent year-on-year, he said, 'and a massive 263 percent from the pandemic low.
'Texas is no longer in an inventory shortage. And is now over-supplied.'
Dallas is another market which is starting to get hit, Gerli said, with home values down around three to five percent since pandemic highs.
The Reventure CEO said he believes the reason for the huge rise in homes for sale in Texas is because homebuilders and investors are beginning to 'liquidate out of this market.'
In other words, they are beginning to sell up as they are not earning money on homes due to high property taxes and stagnating rents.
'Builders are needing to do big mark downs to sell houses, which is hurting the resale market,' he added.
It comes after warnings that the Texan condo market - in particular - is teetering on the edge of a Florida-style crisis as sales decline in major cities.
The population of the wider city of Austin soared from 1.6 million in 2013 to 2.3 million in 2023 (Pictured: Suburb neighborhood of East Austin)
Austin's popularity sparked a surge in homebuilding, but the inventory is not being met by strong demand, experts say
In part due to thriving tech and music industries in the city and low state taxes, Austin has seen an influx of new residents in recent years - a trend which accelerated during the pandemic
Unsold homes are piling up in Austin, Fort Worth and Dallas, as high insurance costs and destructive natural disasters make condos a tough sell, data from Redfin released earlier this year shows.
It comes as Florida faces a catastrophic real estate crisis, which is seeing condo listings skyrocket as desperate owners try to flee.
The number of condos for sale in Florida increased by 53 percent in the year to July, according to Redfin.
But the Lone Star State is quickly catching up - with a 42 percent rise in that time.
In Fort Worth, listings have increased 65.4 percent and sales have fallen 33.3 percent.
Meanwhile in Dallas, the number of condos for sale is up 61.7 percent, and in Austin listings have surged by 28.6 percent.
Frequent and intense natural disasters in Texas - as in Florida - are a major factor in surging home insurance costs. In turn, this contributes to surging HOA fees in condo buildings, as maintenance costs are passed on to unit owners.
Those rising costs, along with the danger of being caught in a natural disaster itself, are scaring off condo buyers and motivating owners to sell, Redfin said.
Texas has been hit by extreme weather this year - including the largest wildfire in the state's history, flooding, tropical storms and deadly Hurricane Beryl.
Real estate investors have also backed off from buying condos. Instead, those who bought the properties to rent them out a few years ago are now trying to offload them.
Texas climbs to #3 in AP Poll
- By Jet Peddler
- Inside the 40 Acres
- 2 Replies
Hook em!
apnews.com
AP Top 25: Oregon remains No. 1 as Big Ten grabs 4 of top 5 spots; Georgia, Miami out of top 10
Oregon is the No. 1 team in The Associated Press Top 25 college football poll for the fourth straight week.
apnews.com
Sankey Ruling on Fake Injuries
- By Jeffreyb31
- Inside the 40 Acres
- 38 Replies
It's about f-ing time. Fake injury BS has to stop. Sankey outlined the following penalties:
www.espn.com
- First offense, a head coach receives a public reprimand and a $50,000 fine.
- Second offense, another reprimand and a $100,000 fine.
- Third offense, another reprimand and the coach will be suspended for his program's next game.
SEC outlines discipline for fake injury 'nonsense'
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey sent a memo this week to league athletic directors and head football coaches outlining the punishment if players continue to fake injuries in games.
