KPIX Channel 5 (San Francisco) News at 11:00 ran a story last night about an "affordable housing lottery" in Novato (Marin County, California). About 1,000 people showed up for the drawing; about 2,600 applied; and 351 of Hamilton Military Base’s condominiums are being sold to the winners. Prices range from $130,000 to $380,000, depending on family size and income; but to qualify, the income must be between $30,000 and $130,000.

This lottery is just bullshit. It’s just a giveaway to the rich and discrimination* against the poor. People who make less than $30,000 should also be eligible; in fact, homeless people should be given first priority.** And don’t tell me they can’t afford it, because the premise of this program is you pay according to your ability to pay. You make $10K a year, you pay 1/3 as much as the guy who makes $30,000 (or less; percentage-wise, you're paying triple for food). You make $0, you pay $0; it’s only fair.

* I should mention this is state-sponsored discrimination: the San Francisco Chronicle stated today that "to qualify, an applicant’s household income had to fit a complex formula required by state law."

** It was government property to begin with, so maybe they should all be given to the homeless for free. Otherwise, it’s just welfare for the rich.