Eric Shear

Socialism is popular again. The rise of politicians such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shows how the promises of socialism are once again influencing our political debate

In 1979, Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman appeared on The Phil Donahue Show and gave his most memorable interview about the nature of greed. Today, there are over 100 clips of the interview uploaded to YouTube. Some have hundreds of thousands of views; others, millions. Phil Donahue: When you see around the globe, the maldistribution of wealth, a desperate plight of millions of people in underdeveloped countries. When you see so few “haves” and so many “have-nots.” When you see the greed and the concentration of power. Did you ever have a moment of doubt about capitalism and whether greed is a good idea to run on?

For many Americans, the cornerstone of “the American dream” is the possibility to someday own a slice of a beach paradise. But as you’ve read throughout this issue, when it comes to beaches—or any land along our coasts— government agencies have declared open season on private property rights.

America is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. Our country boasts a greater diversity of climates and landscapes than most, from tropical beaches and sandy deserts to wind-swept farmland and snowcapped peaks. This bountiful earth has provided a fertile birthplace for the Great American Experiment. Imagine yourself atop Pike’s Peak, among the first of the Rocky Mountains that American settlers encountered on their journey west. From up there, vast plains stretch out to the east, and rugged mountains dot the landscape to the west. Down below, the city’s buildings look like tiny specks, barely noticeable amid the landscape’s grandeur. No wonder this vista inspired Katharine Lee Bates to pen the verses for “America the Beautiful.”

When government regulations for America’s coastline go too far, there are real consequences. As you’ve read, many beach homeowners can be forced to give up their property or acquiesce to absurd bureaucratic rules.

The first round of nerves really bubbled up when I finally made it to Philmont’s base camp. I’d been to Boy Scout camps and countless campouts before but this was the big one: This was Philmont. No amount of merit badges on a khaki uniform could prepare me for those visceral feelings of uncertainty, awe, and excitement for the adventure I was about to experience.

The concepts of property rights and conservation are unfortunately, and mistakenly, pitted against each other on a regular basis. But what happens when people are forced to fight for their property rights in order to conserve their land?

Much has changed in America over the last 60 years. When it comes to housing, we have witnessed a dramatic downward shift in both accessibility and affordability. Before we can figure out how we got here and decide what steps can be taken to plot a new course, we must first assess the current situation. How much more distant is the American Dream today than it was back then?

The affordable housing crisis facing America today is complex. No single villain exists.

Houston, Texas, is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the entire United States.

Frederick Winslow Taylor was a business consultant obsessed with scientific precision in everything he did, whether it was a friendly game of tennis or the operation of a steel lathe.

City planners tremble as they whisper a new term that embodies their fears: “Seattle-ization.” Washington’s Emerald City, once the byword for urban vitality, is now outpacing San Francisco as a cautionary tale in how over-regulation strangles the housing market.