Comment by kelnos

> If it gets you the reform, yes. The point is you don't get housing reform with grumpy homeowners barring a massive shift in voting patterns.

I think this is a really good insight. The reason for long-lived NIMBY policies is because NIMBYs[0] vote and lobby more than everyone else does. I have, do, and will continue to vote for pro-housing policies, but there are a lot of people -- probably still in the majority -- who will not vote for anything or anyone that will reduce the value of their homes.

What matters is outcomes. If paying off the NIMBYs gets you a good future housing policy, then we should do it.

[0] I know "NIMBY" is generally a pejorative, and I agree with that for the most part, but I will admit that many NIMBYs are operating and voting quite logically, for their own interest, even if it hurts others, and hurts society collectively.