this post was submitted on 30 Jun 2025
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Really, it comes down to perspective. As someone in the U.S., the scope of what he's saying isn't as radical as it might seem - if you look at the surrounding context.
New York City as expensive. Laborers to work there can't afford to live there. 25 Euros may sound like a lot - but it's barely a livable wage inside the city.
And American rental housing is mostly owned by a small number of massive corporations. They use computer algorithms to determine how much they can charge to earn maximum profit. Rents have gone up exorbitantly, far more than inflation or even demand. So the rents need to be held in place and stabilized. It's a completely unregulated market.
Similarly, food stores are consolidated under a small number of mega corporations. In a functioning system, stores byproducts based on market rates, then sell them based on what people are able to pay. However, in the U.S., grocery stores dictate how much they're willing to pay for goods. Small businesses need to bribe the distributors in order to get proper placement within grocery stores. And grocery stores I've been raising prices when the cost of staples go up - but then never lowering them again. Poor people can qualify to get money for food, but they aren't able to buy enough now. Operating a food store for public good is a middle step to ensure farmers get paid and people can buy quality food.
Public transit was free for a few years during the worst of covid, and people all over the country have been campaigning to try to keep it that way.
So, taking all of the surrounding details into context? He's not nearly as far left of center as he seems. But without the context, I understand why it may look like he's more of an extreme leftist.