Proposal for “One Big Beauty Building” by Senator Mike Lee

Last week, Senator Mike Lee of Utah introduced a draft proposal called “One Big Beauty Building.” While Lee presents this idea with the aim of addressing affordable housing, some critics are skeptical. They argue that the proposal might limit public access to the scenic lands currently enjoyed, rather than effectively resolving the housing crisis.

Co-founder of Blaze Media, Glenn Beck, raises concerns, stating, “If you look at the proportion of land owned in certain states, many people may find themselves unable to live there.” He emphasizes the scale of federal land ownership, noting that the government controls approximately 640 million acres—about 28% of the entire U.S. land mass—which he feels restricts local opportunities.

Furthermore, Beck mentions that this extensive control, especially over remote areas, could turn local residents into mere tenants of federal housing complexes. With the availability of land decreasing, he points out that land prices tend to rise while state taxes decrease.

He clarifies, though, that the conversation isn’t about selling national treasures like Yellowstone or Yosemite. Instead, he refers to less accessible or poorly managed federal land. “This situation is significant,” he continues, highlighting that the federal government is deep in debt—hovering around $35 trillion, possibly $45 trillion now. Our infrastructure is crumbling, yet we, as a country, hold on to vast amounts of land that the government struggles to maintain.