[Chapter 80, “Was the American Revolution Radical?,” from Murray N. Rothbard’s Conceived in Liberty, vol. 4, The Revolutionary War, 1775–1784.]

Recently almost all of the Irish media trumpeted the fact that a popular property website Daft.ie reported the average Irish rental to be in excess of €2,000 per month for the first time. A show-stopping, shocking revelation, a metric that chilled the bones of those subjected to the drumbeat of breathless media reporting and the positive glee of opposition politicians (for whom the metric was a stick with which to beat the current government).

The government’s actions are eroding the confidence of major businesses in the British market. The financial community has expressed skepticism regarding Keir Starmer’s claims and has not shown significant interest in investing in arms production. Concurrently, the super-rich have initiated a financial exodus from the UK.

As Americans prepare to celebrate the 249th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we should also toast the 250th anniversary of a savvy political two-step that paved the way to formally breaking with Britain the following year.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Shah or King of Iran) was forced into exile in January 1979 by nationwide citizen protests, worker strikes, failed autocratic rule and fading health. He appointed a new government under Prime Minister Shapour Bakhtiar.

[This article was originally published in Housing Finance International.]

After more than fifty years of US government-sponsored housing finance, Why has home ownership not increased and why are houses unaffordable?