A recent post about Judith Miller's incarceration for refusal to disclose a source elicited some unfavorable comments:
"EXCUSE ME! That's my president, he's no crook and I resent those comments."--Jim Beardsley
"Fran, you should keep partisan politics out of a real estate blog. I'm sorry to say that you just lost a reader."--Peter
I'm just guessing, but I have a hunch the first complainant is the same Jim Beardsley who sells real estate in St. Charles, MO. From what I gather on the Beardsley real estate web site in Missouri, Jim Beardsley is a highly competent, in-the-trenches REALTOR® who leaves a trail of happy buyers and customers. We may differ on political issues, but I might hire him as my agent if I needed real estate help in Missouri.
"Peter", on the other hand, does not leave a last name, but he does leave his footprints in the sand (i.e. site statistics). I have a pretty good idea that "Peter" is a well-heeled real estate "notable." His daily reading includes updates on Kelo, Inman Real Estate News, and all things relating to his home town, from housing to the weather.
What is most curious is that "Peter" thinks that there is no place for partisan politics in a real estate blog. Besides real estate transactions, per se, Peter, real estate itself is all about partisan politics. Just look at the lobbying in Washington, in states, and communities across the country. Heck, just look at the real estate listservs...real estate is all about politics. I'll make a promise to "Peter" right here and now. When The National Assn. of REALTORS® takes itself out of the partisan political ring, I'll take politics out of my blog.
My father used to say, "If it's worth writing, it's worth signing." My father has taken many bold stands in editorials throughout the years. He never considered "Anonymous." Neither have I. Think about it, Peter.
I have not read this entry that has cause all this controversey so I have no comment on that. But for those who feel that politics should have no place in real estate are sorely mistaken. Politics always play a key role in real estate whether one likes it or not. The way property is sold, rented and utilized in anyway is dictated by laws of where the property is located whether it is through local or national governments.
These laws are formed through the democratic process that this country was founded on. This process includes lobbying, voting and all sorts of fun activities that keep C-SPAN in business.
By no means am I saying one side is better than the other or that one needs join the ranks of Franken and Limbaugh to do real estate. But to deny the role that politics plays in real estate is completely unrealistic.
Posted by: Grunt | July 21, 2005 at 04:20 PM