The Case "For" Home Ownership (imho)

Let's just say you wanted to persuade someone that owning a home was a bad thing and renting was better/best. What would you do? Well, if you were a writer for Time Magazine you might write an article using phrases like: "Homeownership has let us down," "the dark side of homeownership," "[t]he inflexibility that pervasive homeownership brings," "[s]ince the benefits to society of owning a home are hazy," "What is perhaps the worst side of the homeownership fetish is dark indeed," etc.

These are just a few of Barbara Kiviat's words in her Time Magazine article entitled (click title to read): "The Case Against Homeownership" where, quite frankly, she just works too hard to prove it (which always makes me a bit suspicious). Along with her precision crafted phrases, Kiviat also includes carefully selected anecdotes (you can prove anything with one). And I might be tempted to say she "spins" those, too, but writers never do that (so I won't). ("Objection, your honor." Objection sustained.)

And I guess if I could ask her (Barbara) anything, it would be: Does she herself own a home? And if so, since it's such a bad investment, is she in the process of getting rid of it and looking for a rental? (One would never preach against smoking while puffing on a cigarette.) In the end I think Kiviat's case falls flat. In my humble opinion (imho) she does more to prove the case "for" home ownership. (Again, I just don't trust anyone who works so hard/manipulates to make their case.)