Former landlord and real estate broker. Perhaps rents are "so damn high" in part BECAUSE being a landlord is so damn risky. Something like 75% of non-owner-occupied, single family homes in America are owned by small, family landlords (not corporations). Between squatters, liability, and rent control, fewer people take the risk without a higher reward level. Someone has to pay for the cost of squatters, and that someone is the law abiding tenant who just wants a yard instead of a corporate-owned pod.
Regarding lethal force on the border:
When my wife and I became parents 18 years ago, we were given a basic axiom by more parentally experienced friends: "do not ever give a command you are not prepared to backup all the way." As a result, our true commands are sparse, but obedience to them is absolute. My 3 daughters (yes, including my almost adult) know very well that any command carries a threat of not sitting down comfortably for the remainder of the day. That credible threat has resulted in no young lady in this house having to endure the actual application of said punishment for several years.
What does this have to do with the border? Do not give a command (for example: "you are not allowed to cross this line") unless you are willing to back up that command all the way. With violence if necessary. With lethal violence if warranted. I watched the video. You're correct that no lethal force was needed there, since those 500 people just ran to another fence, where they could easily have been turned around and forcibly sent back. (The fact that they were NOT turned around is a political not a military problem.) However, if there had been no other fence, I believe firing on any adult who crossed the final fence line would be entirely appropriate. It sounds cold, but you must back up your commands with violence when defied, or your commands will be ignored.
Whether at an individual level or a national one though, we're unwilling to swiftly and efficiently deal with squatters. And as you said, "what the state fails to do, the citizenry [likely via a state government] eventually will".
The real problem here is these crazy tenancy laws. Require people to have a copy of their lease. Or require leases to be filed in the courthouse. If you don't have a lease, or any other actual proof that you belong there and have lived there as long as you claim, you don't get to stay there if the owner tells you have to leave. I understand the concern about "tenants rights" and all that stuff, and I understand that shady landlords can cause problems too, but clearly those tenancy laws require honest actors and that the people claiming to be tenants are actually tenants. Just showing up and claiming you live there without any proof at all and being allowed to stay indefinitely is ridiculous and biased too far against the property owner. We've gone too far in the opposite direction trying to fix one problem and created another.
At the risk of sounding totally paranoid, it sure looks like state and federal governments (and their pals like the Fed) do not want ordinary people to own any income producing assets. No participating in the FIRE economy for you, Silly Peasant! If you do, the risks are amplified and you're on your own if things go sideways. During the Housing Bubble ordinary people looking to get ahead were viciously pumped and dumped. We all know who got bailed out. And who didn't. This looks like a DEI eminent domain move. Except without any compensation. Big Mommy insists that you be kind™ and let that poor kid keep the toy they stole. They're unfortunate. Sad and oppressed! You must share!
Squatting really bothers people in a way that other forms of theft do not. A home should be a safe haven, a place of rest. Furthermore it represents a lifetime of effort. So it deserves a special status in law and practice.
The problem encompasses a number of trends, including police neglecting their duties and seeing themselves more as peacekeepers than defenders of the law abiding. They shouldn’t be surprised if the public begins to see them as one more gang, as already is the case in many parts of the world.
I think word will get around that the police and law are useless and people will resort to self-help. It’s risky, but a lot of people will see it as worthwhile. We could also see large corporations purchase these properties at a discount, as they can afford the cost and develop expertise in dealing with these pests.
I have thankfully never had to deal with a squatter. But I do rent my basement out. Before I bought my house I actually rented out the basement of another guy. Anyway, I basically use his lease (with names and addresses changed) for my own tenants.
He put a sweet little clause in there. Where rent doubles in price if they don't vacate when told. It basically means that we get to skip small claims court and go to the big leagues fairly quickly. Thankfully I have never had to do an eviction, this is because I do my homework on every potential renter. Background checks, credit checks, job history. If they are iffy I don't want them. 90% of landlord work does not happen if you properly screen tenants.
Former landlord and real estate broker. Perhaps rents are "so damn high" in part BECAUSE being a landlord is so damn risky. Something like 75% of non-owner-occupied, single family homes in America are owned by small, family landlords (not corporations). Between squatters, liability, and rent control, fewer people take the risk without a higher reward level. Someone has to pay for the cost of squatters, and that someone is the law abiding tenant who just wants a yard instead of a corporate-owned pod.
Regarding lethal force on the border:
When my wife and I became parents 18 years ago, we were given a basic axiom by more parentally experienced friends: "do not ever give a command you are not prepared to backup all the way." As a result, our true commands are sparse, but obedience to them is absolute. My 3 daughters (yes, including my almost adult) know very well that any command carries a threat of not sitting down comfortably for the remainder of the day. That credible threat has resulted in no young lady in this house having to endure the actual application of said punishment for several years.
What does this have to do with the border? Do not give a command (for example: "you are not allowed to cross this line") unless you are willing to back up that command all the way. With violence if necessary. With lethal violence if warranted. I watched the video. You're correct that no lethal force was needed there, since those 500 people just ran to another fence, where they could easily have been turned around and forcibly sent back. (The fact that they were NOT turned around is a political not a military problem.) However, if there had been no other fence, I believe firing on any adult who crossed the final fence line would be entirely appropriate. It sounds cold, but you must back up your commands with violence when defied, or your commands will be ignored.
Whether at an individual level or a national one though, we're unwilling to swiftly and efficiently deal with squatters. And as you said, "what the state fails to do, the citizenry [likely via a state government] eventually will".
The real problem here is these crazy tenancy laws. Require people to have a copy of their lease. Or require leases to be filed in the courthouse. If you don't have a lease, or any other actual proof that you belong there and have lived there as long as you claim, you don't get to stay there if the owner tells you have to leave. I understand the concern about "tenants rights" and all that stuff, and I understand that shady landlords can cause problems too, but clearly those tenancy laws require honest actors and that the people claiming to be tenants are actually tenants. Just showing up and claiming you live there without any proof at all and being allowed to stay indefinitely is ridiculous and biased too far against the property owner. We've gone too far in the opposite direction trying to fix one problem and created another.
At the risk of sounding totally paranoid, it sure looks like state and federal governments (and their pals like the Fed) do not want ordinary people to own any income producing assets. No participating in the FIRE economy for you, Silly Peasant! If you do, the risks are amplified and you're on your own if things go sideways. During the Housing Bubble ordinary people looking to get ahead were viciously pumped and dumped. We all know who got bailed out. And who didn't. This looks like a DEI eminent domain move. Except without any compensation. Big Mommy insists that you be kind™ and let that poor kid keep the toy they stole. They're unfortunate. Sad and oppressed! You must share!
Squatting really bothers people in a way that other forms of theft do not. A home should be a safe haven, a place of rest. Furthermore it represents a lifetime of effort. So it deserves a special status in law and practice.
The problem encompasses a number of trends, including police neglecting their duties and seeing themselves more as peacekeepers than defenders of the law abiding. They shouldn’t be surprised if the public begins to see them as one more gang, as already is the case in many parts of the world.
I think word will get around that the police and law are useless and people will resort to self-help. It’s risky, but a lot of people will see it as worthwhile. We could also see large corporations purchase these properties at a discount, as they can afford the cost and develop expertise in dealing with these pests.
I don't trust myself (or our overlords) to say what really should happen to invaders and squatters.
I have thankfully never had to deal with a squatter. But I do rent my basement out. Before I bought my house I actually rented out the basement of another guy. Anyway, I basically use his lease (with names and addresses changed) for my own tenants.
He put a sweet little clause in there. Where rent doubles in price if they don't vacate when told. It basically means that we get to skip small claims court and go to the big leagues fairly quickly. Thankfully I have never had to do an eviction, this is because I do my homework on every potential renter. Background checks, credit checks, job history. If they are iffy I don't want them. 90% of landlord work does not happen if you properly screen tenants.