Housing Policy

Christian Britschgi | 10.3.2024 12:55 PM

Tuesday's vice presidential debate included a surprising amount of agreement between the two candidates on stage. Sen. J.D. Vance (R–Ohio) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) competed on who would produce more oil, keep the border more secure, and support Israel the most.

They also were both in alignment on the notion that housing shouldn't be "a commodity."

"The problem we've had is that we've got a lot of folks that see housing as another commodity," said Walz, criticizing the influence of Wall Street on the housing market.

Tim Walz: "The problem we've had is that we've got a lot of folks that see housing as another commodity"

— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) October 2, 2024

"We should get out of this idea of housing as a commodity!" concurred Vance, saying that the way to make it not a commodity would be to crack down on illegal immigration.

JD VANCE: "I actually agree with Tim Walz. We should get out of this idea of housing as a commodity! But the thing that has most turned housing into a commodity is giving it away to millions upon millions of people who have no legal right to be here!" pic.twitter.com/mrsQRKWFof

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 2, 2024

The most generic definition of a commodity is something of value that's bought and sold. A not insignificant segment of the left uses this generic definition when they say we should "decommodify" housing—it should not be something that's bought and sold like a normal product.

Hear Rep.........

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