Saturday, August 27, 2016

Spanish Pipedream


People, this is the most DC thing ever. From the Wall St. Journal comes the heart-rending story of the Maryland swim club that wouldn't let Katie Ledecky join!


The Little Falls Swim club membership is capped at 377 families. Joining via waiting list can take 7 years! Points toward membership are awarded by how close you live to the pool (in a 10 zone system). If you live more that 4000 feet (yes you read that right FEET) from the pool, they won't even accept your application!

Government created artificial scarcity combined with a price ceiling provoking a frenzied but meaningless status competition that seemingly consumes peoples' lives?

Oh, yes please!

Zoning makes building another damn pool nearby unlikely. Just being Maryland makes letting prices clear the market impossible.

The Ledecky family long ago joined a different pool and swim team (the impeccably named Palisades Porpoises) and the rest is history.

I guess you could say they all found Jesus on their own.






6 comments:

Robin said...

I guess your solution is a) keep raising prices until the market clears b) build enough pools for everyone until that market clears.

Of course the fact that this is a COMMUNITY pool with a mission to serve the local community is entirely ignored.

And why should ledecky jump the queue? Is she even local? I don't know but you don't say.

Robin said...

I guess your solution is a) keep raising prices until the market clears b) build enough pools for everyone until that market clears.

Of course the fact that this is a COMMUNITY pool with a mission to serve the local community is entirely ignored.

And why should ledecky jump the queue? Is she even local? I don't know but you don't say.

Angus said...

Oh, Robin. Of course she's local or they wouldn't have accepted the family's application. They lived within 4000 feet of the pool!

willinthethrill said...

I suppose you could say government wasn't quite a level headed dancer.... ;)

Unknown said...

The official sport of the Republic of North Maryland, 'Frenzied but meaningless status competition that seemingly consumes peoples' lives.'

Anonymous said...

Yes, they have a similar points system for rent controlled housing overseas as to the pool club.

The City with 20-year waiting lists for rental homes
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20160517-this-is-one-city-where-youll-never-find-a-home