The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Bastiat Institute

Chapter 13
Helter Shelter
The streets grew quieter as Jonathan trudged down yet another
row of drab houses. He noticed a group of poorly dressed
people gathered in front of three tall buildings labelled BLOCK A,
BLOCK B and BLOCK C. BLOCK A was vacant and in appalling
condition – the brickwork crumbling, the windows broken, and any
remaining panes fi lthy with grime. Next door at BLOCK B people
huddled on the front steps. Jonathan heard loud voices coming from
inside and the sounds of lively activity from all three fl oors. Laundry
hung untidily from sticks that protruded from every available
window and balcony. It burst at the seams with tenants.
Across the street stood BLOCK C, immaculately maintained
and, like BLOCK A, empty of people. Its scrubbed windows
sparkled in the sunlight, plastered walls were smooth and clean.
As he gazed at the three buildings, Jonathan felt a light tap on his
shoulder. Turning, he faced a young girl with long brown hair. Her
light grey clothes fi tted her poorly and she wasn’t especially pretty
at fi rst sight, but Jonathan thought she looked alert and kind.
“Do you know of any apartments for rent?” she asked in a soft,
pleasant voice.
“I’m sorry,” said Jonathan. “I’m not from around here. But why
don’t you check those two vacant buildings.
“It’s no use,” she responded softly.
“But,” said Jonathan, “they look empty to me.”
“They are. My family used to live over there in BLOCK A
before rent control.”
“What’s rent control?” asked Jonathan.
“It’s a law to stop landlords from raising rents.”
“Why?” probed Jonathan.
“Oh, it’s a silly story,” she said. “Back when the Dream Machine
came through our neighbourhood, my dad and other tenants