Ben Carson, the Republican Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to make housing affordable and he has a simple plan: cut unnecessary government regulation. In an interview in the Wall Street Journal, Carson said: “I want to encourage the development of mixed-income multifamily dwellings all over the place.” At a gathering of public housing authority directors in Washington, D.C, Carson shared his diagnosis of the problem: “I want to take a closer look at the archaic local and state regulatory barriers—such as zoning and land use restrictions—that are … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
The Great Revolt – Book Review
Salena Zito has been a political journalist for almost 15 years. Her rule for traveling is “no planes, no interstates and no hotels.” While many pundits, journalists, political strategists, and the like tend to fly over the rural and industrial areas of America, Zito stays at the local bed-and-breakfasts and eats at the local diners. This dedication to getting to know Middle America has given Zito a compelling vantage point for understanding the 2016 election. Her book The Great Revolt (co-written with Republican strategist Brad Todd) introduces us to the counties and citizens who put Donald … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
The Case for Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory Dwelling Units have gotten a lot of publicity in recent years, due in large part to the Tiny Houses movement. Often valued for their trendiness and novelty, ADUs are becoming an important alternative to standard housing. And while Tiny Houses are one form of ADUs, they are not the only or even the most important one. Common models for ADUs include turning a basement or garage into a fully furnished apartment or building a cottage in a spacious backyard. ADUs allow renters to find more affordable housing options and allow homeowners to generate additional revenue by charging … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
Reconnecting Democracy: #LongRead
Is Democracy Dying? Democracy has developed into a cornerstone of Western Civilization, providing the basis for our political systems, our views of human rights, and the way in which we organize our businesses, our schools, and our homes in society. A paper published in The Journal of Democracy shares global research that indicates that dedication to and support of democracy is beginning to wane -- even in the West. The report shows, for example, that in the United States, less than one-third of millennials—defined as people born since 1980— say that democracy is an essential factor for … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
Paid Leave: Good for Family, Good For Enterprise
Families are the building block of civil society. Businesses are also an integral foundation of civil society. Paid family leave policy is important because it impacts families and businesses. Our society is ready for a practical blueprints that give families access to better leave policies while also enabling businesses to do the good they are often afraid to do. We recognize that family leave is good for families: A study published in The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economic found that maternity leave led to women reporting fewer depressive symptoms, reduction in severe … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
National Literacy Trust: Study
The National Literacy Trust has an online resource entitled Words for Life that provides tips, downloadable activities, and other resources for parents to encourage them to read to their children. At the launch of the Words for Life resource, the Trust shared findings from a study. In an article about the research, the Trust shared that: Nearly a third (29%) feel the most important influence on their children’s communication and language skills lay with someone other than themselves 15% cite teachers as having the biggest influence on these skills One parent in seven (14%) does not spend … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
Affirmation and Attachment, Part 2
In my last post, I introduced the philosopher Josef Pieper and talked about his insight on affirmation. I shared his thoughts on how humbly recognizing that everything that exists is good and has been gifted to us (including our own existence!) is the foundation for loving others. In Pieper's words, this affirmation proclaims that “everything that is, is good, and it is good to exist.” I applied Pieper's insights to parenting and explored how affirming our kids can deepen our attachments and strengthen our families. Today, I want to talk briefly about parents affirming other parents. When … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
Affirmation and Attachment, Part 1
Few thinkers have thought about festivity and celebration as deeply as the Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper (4 May 1904 – 6 November 1997). In his short but dense In Tune with the World, Pieper lays out a compelling theory of festivity. For Pieper, we celebrate because we recognize that everything - our existence, the existence of those around us, the existence of trees and flowers and stars - is a good gift. Our most joyous celebrations are thus predicated on humility in recognizing this gift. It is in this spirit of humble joy, what Pieper calls festivity, that we ought to love each … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
Be a Scout Not A Soldier
I'm never wrong, except when I'm disagreeing with my wife. Okay, fine, I admit that I'm often wrong and I'm not always the quickest to acknowledge when I'm wrong. Recently I watched Julia Galef's TEDx talk on why we think we're right -- even when we're wrong. It turns out when I struggle to see or admit that I am wrong, I am often encountering what social scientists call "motivated reasoning." Galef explains that motivated reasoning refers to how our "unconscious motivations, our desires, and fears, shape the way we interpret information." In other words, we are rarely fully disinterested and … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
Gentrification is Anti-Family
When you think of a vibrant city, what kinds of people do you envision? The artsy hipster barista? The forty-something entrepreneur dressed in jeans? The fashionable women in high heels enjoying rosé in an outdoor canopy cafe? Now try to picture another demographic living in the city: a family. As a general rule, cities aren't designed (or redesigned) to accommodate the needs and desires of families. A series on cities from The American Conservative describes how more and more cities are being transformed into what the industry refers to as the Vibrant Urban Neighborhood. "The … [Click to Read The Full Post...]
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