Re: The constant mistake..
"cost of living includes housing costs. These to be frank by historical levels are outright absurd"
Housing is expensive because, as someone else pointed out, land is cheap, but land with planning permission is enormously expensive. Why? Supply and demand. Supply is restricted by valid environmental concerns, but also by NIMBYism (not wanting new developments close by) and jealousy (why should someone else make millions off their land while mine is worthless?).
Increase the supply, the price will fall. All that is required is a few strokes of a pen. And opposition can be overcome by fair dealing (combine planning permission grants with a windfall tax on landowners whose previously worthless land is now worth millions, thus spreading around the value to the whole community)
Biting the hand that feeds IT
