Opinion
By John Stossel
Nostalgic memes are all over the internet, spreading false messages like this: “Once upon a time, a family could own a home, a car & send their kids to college, all on one income.” But it’s just a myth. Activists and politicians use it so they can be the ones to “fix” it… with more government. Or socialism. Columbia Business School Professor Jeremy Ney believes the meme, telling us that housing prices are much more expensive today. But economist Norbert Michel explains, in the “good old days” houses were smaller, and had less stuff. People could afford college, but hardly anyone went. And a family could own a car, but it rusted easily and lasted half as long as today’s cars.
Mr. Stossel is an investigative reporter with over 50 years of experience, beginning his career in Portland, Oregon, where he helped pioneer TV consumer reporting.