The
BOLT
October 2021 Volume 22, Issue 2 lightningboltonline.com Sage Hill School 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657
The Return of the Lightning! Lauren Chung
Wilkins Town Square was decorated with streamers and banners for our annual Pep Rally, which took place on a sunny Friday morning. After over a year from the COVID-19 pandemic, Sage Hill traditions return, filling the week with tons of spirit and excitement. Our Student Council planned a fun, memorable week for students, teachers, and faculty members to dress up for our Homecoming Spirit Week. “Spirit Week was a very collaborative process, and everyone in Student Council came together and brainstormed ideas,” said Sophomore Co-Chair Max Razmjoo. “I am very proud of what we were able to do in Student Council and more excited about having a pep rally.” StuCo planned dress-up days to rally spirit among the Sage community; Monday was Pajama Day, Tuesday was No Backpack Day, Wednesday was Jersey Day, Thursday was Groovy Day, and Friday was our traditional Pep Rally with our class color shirts. “My favorite spirit day was Pajama Day because I could be comfortable during the school day in my pajamas,” said freshman Ceyda Shamsai. “It was also fun because my friends participated in it too.” This year, our traditional Pep Rally took place in Town Square instead of the Ube, and students arrived on campus early in the morning to help decorate and hang banners. “I was so excited to go early in the morning to help my class out,” said freshman Haley Li. “My friends and I were able to throw streamers around trees and decorate all around campus.” Because of the pandemic, sophomores missed out on the tradition last year, making Pep Rally a first time experience for both freshmen and sophomores. “I really liked the competition between each grade level as well as coming together as a community,” said sophomore Jaci Lee. “Everyone was throwing streamers, and it was all just very fun.” Junior Adi Rawal also enjoyed Pep Rally, as he thought it was a “great community bonding experience and very enriching for the students.” To kick off Pep Rally, freshman Fiori Lee gave a stunning performance of the national anthem and was followed by the Sage Hill Jazz Band performing “Don’t
Sabrina Do | The Bolt
Juniors and seniors engage in a friendly competition of bubble ball soccer. Stop Believin’”. After, our school’s Dance Team showcased an upbeat dance that fired up the crowd, where the community was further aroused through grade level class cheers. This year’s Pep Rally game was bubble soccer, where students play soccer but are inside inflatable bubbles. “I think that bubble soccer was my favorite part of the pep rally,” said Li. “I heard my friends cheering my name, and it was fun to bump into others and watch
“
them bounce.” After the exciting game of bubble soccer, the Sage Hill tradition continues through grade level skits. First, the freshmen performed an impressive dance to the song “Calling All the Monsters” by China Anne McClain, showcasing flips and tumbling. Then, the sophomores’ skit was about an old Sage Hill alumni that reminisces distance learning through Zoom. Next, the juniors emphasized the troubles a student expe-
“Overall, it was a great experience I wish we could do every year.”
Melody Yu ‘25
Editorial, Page 2
Events, Page 3
riences through their junior year, but in the end, the student was able to overcome these stresses through support from their peers. Finally, the senior skit demonstrated the importance of the Honor Code as well as our school’s Six Core Competencies. In a difficult decision, the judges announced the winners, and in a rare occasion, juniors took first place. In second came seniors, sophomores placed third, and freshmen were in last place.
News, Page 4
” Community, Page 6
Backpage, Page 8
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The Bolt October 2021 Sage Hill School
Editorial
We Can’t Stress This Enough: How to Deal with the Pressure
We’re almost two months into the school year, and the first quarter has come to an end. With this time of year comes the nearing conclusion of fall sports, back-to-school festivities, and what some students may consider to be the easiest part of the academic year. But what is something that will continue to last for the months to come? Pressure. Let’s face it: we attend an academically rigorous school where going above and beyond can feel like the bare minimum. Late night studying sessions are considered more ordinary than rare. And academics aren’t our only commitment. We have to balance a variety of extracurriculars, ranging from sports to theater, from community service to jobs, or maybe even all of the above. Not only do we have to participate in all of these activities, academic and non-academic alike, but we also bear the pressure to succeed and stand out in them. This pressure is universal throughout the school. Freshmen are expected to start planning out the rest of their high school experience after only a brief grace period. Sophomores are taking more difficult classes while discovering new interests through clubs or other activities. Juniors have to deal with standardized testing, AP classes, and the beginning of the college research process. As for seniors, one word always seems to crop up in conversation: college. To put it simply, the pressure’s on, and it doesn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon. But you don’t need us telling you this. You feel the pressure on an everyday basis. So the question is, what can we do about it? The answer is different for everyone. Some excerise or listen to music to de-stress. Others seek refuge in nature. Sometimes, we need a rejuvenating nap.
Xinyi Xie | The Bolt
“For me, taking a step back from everything and finding something that relaxes me is so important and a big game changer for me in terms of dealing with stress and pressure,” senior and Wellness Service Learning Group member Kylee Wang said. The bottom line is this: do what you want and need to do to take care of yourself, because your mental health should be a priority. “It can be a very small thing, but simply finding something that works for you to relax is what I believe to be the best thing you can
T
THE BOLT
he Bolt is a student newspaper and serves the public forum at Sage Hill School. Its content - news, editorial, opinion, and feature - is protected by Education Code 48907, the state student rights law and the California Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right of freedom of speech and of the press. The Bolt accepts signed letters to the editor from members of the Sage Hill Community which may be posted as comments to our website, lightningboltonline. com, or addressed to editor-in-chiefs Riya Gupta or Sanjana Khurana and put in their mailboxes on campus. These letters may not exceed 150 words or they will be edited for inclusion. Editors-in-Chief Riya Gupta (Bolt), Sanjana Khurana (Bolt), Xinyi Xie (Online), Courtney Davis (Storm) and Julia Kwon (Storm) Editorial Board Lauren Chung, Isabel Gomez, David Kim, Noe Lee, and Phoebe Pan Adviser Jennifer Kucera Rothman
do for yourself and your mental health,” Wang said. There is also another solution that people often overlook: talking it out. There are people in your life who are here to support you, whether that be friends, family, a school counselor, or another trusted figure in your life. You’re not dealing with this stress alone, so you shouldn’t have to bear the burden of it alone either. So, take a deep breath and believe in yourself. You got this.
Priya Bhakta Carter Bryant Anne Chen Charlotte Cheng Elizabeth Chen Yasmin Dennis Sabrina Do Izzy De Leon Ava Eimani Nic Eimani Alison Hwang Chloe Lee Fiori Lee Lucy Lee Sophia Lin Anna Lin Max Luer
Igrid Luo Alia Sajjadian Ceyda Shamsai Sophia Sun Sophie Qiu Milan Ramezani Max Razmjoo Shaan Sakraney Karmen Sandhu Zahra Sarwono Elizabeth Wattenberg Eric Xie Roya Yahmai Grace Yan Grace Yang Maggie Zhang Winston Zuo
Events
The Bolt October 2021 Sage Hill School
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Homecoming Tailgate: Sports Events Back in Business Izzy De Leon With Sage in-person sports back up and running, the second big football game of the year was a success! The varsity football team won their homecoming game against Southlands Christian 56-0 on October 1 with Danyel Khan and Steven Karahalios each scoring two touchdowns, and Nick Neal, Dylan Williams, Johnny Mayhew, and Aidan Raymer each scoring one. As a highly anticipated event on campus, especially due to having no homecoming in 2020 with COVID restrictions, the pre-game tailgate was a success with many parents, family members, staff, faculty, and students in attendance. The student section was packed with students wearing green and black, the theme for the night. Sage provided food trucks with ice cream from Atomic Creamery, a local business, pizza, tacos, and free popcorn for students in Sage attire. The Synergy Dance Team also performed at halftime, their second performance of the day after the pep rally. As senior night for the football team, seniors Nick Neal and Dylan Williams were highlighted in their achieve-
ments on campus and with their involvement on the football team throughout their four years at Sage. Nick Neal and Dylan Williams are also team captains alongside junior Ty Mazakas, who describes the football season as “going really great this year,” even though they “struggled in week two against Chadwick with [their] first loss, but bounced back better than before.” Mazakas also explains how the football players “are all having fun and…enjoying winning.” The tailgate and game were a great way to end spirit week, which was also a success, highlighted by the Student Council Instagram account, @ sagestuco. Monday was pajama day, Tuesday was no backpack day, Wednesday was jersey day, Thursday was groovy day, and Friday was class shirt day for the pep rally, which was won by the juniors. With the second big dance the next day (the first being the Back to School dance at the beginning of the year), seeing all the students in attendance was a great representation of the campus’s rejuvenated school spirit. After such a tough year, it is exciting to see how connected our community has become.
Eric Xie | The Bolt
Students and parents gather across Town Square as the tailgate kicks off in the late afternoon.
Get Your Groove On Homecoming Dance: ‘Unforgettable’ Karmen Sandhu
The students congregate in front of the DJ during the Homecoming Dance.
David Kim | The Bolt
On Oct. 2, Sage Hill’s students were able to take a step back from their academics as well as sports to enjoy a funfilled homecoming held in Town Square. Sophomores especially were unsure what to expect because they had never attended a school dance due to the pandemic. The anticipation only continued to grow as people asked one another to the dance. The weather, though expected to have been cold, was quite pleasant. Majority of the students undoubtedly put much thought into their dresses and suits, as it had also been the talk of the school since the date of the homecoming dance was announced. The Student Council did an amazing job putting the event together while incorporating the groovy theme. Grace Kao, a sophomore who was unable to attend any
school dances last year due to COVID, described the dance as “an unforgettable experience.” It was amazing to see those who were shy in class blossoming and fully letting go on the dance floor. The DJ played many well known songs which got everyone moving and grooving along to the beat. Memories were made with selfies, videos, and Snapchat stories. Freshman Naomi Tran said that she was having a great time with her friends. That evening enabled many to step outside of their comfort zone and even allowed some to see their peers in a different light, developing a sense of community. There were many teachers who took the time out of their busy schedules to supervise this event, which would have not been possible without their help. The dance has left a tremendous impression on many, causing even more excitement for any future dances.
FOR THE RECORD: In the September issue of The Bolt, we incorrectly identified water polo player Ishaan Sharma in a photograph. We apologize for the error.
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The Bolt October 2021 Sage Hill School
Treating Ourse
Underclassmen Take on Big Bear Phoebe Pan In a time of uncertainty, the 9th and 10th grade retreat brought a sense of normalcy to the Sage Hill community. Despite difficulties caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s freshman and sophomore retreat, held at Cedar Lake Camp on Sept. 13-15, was a success. Ninth graders were able to experience a traditional freshman retreat, while 10th grade students were finally able to make up for their missed freshman retreat after it was cancelled last fall. Organizing this complicated trip was not an easy task for teachers and administrators. The school began preparing this event as early as last school year so that sophomores would be able to finally experience their freshman retreat. Ninth Grade Dean Mrs. Elizabeth Anauld explained the school’s decision for including 10th graders in the retreat: “The planning started May of last year. We recognized that it is such an integral part to getting a class connected and creating community, so having not had that at the beginning of the year, it was evident that [sophomores] didn’t know one another.” Planning a retreat for two grades instead of one brought additional logistical challenges, with administrators having to consider each individual’s situation. “The capacity of the camp is 360, and we had, I think, 331 people who were attending,” said Mrs. Anauld. However, the staff at Cedar Lake Camp were able to accommodate the larger group. “The camp
was amazing, and they actually brought in bunk beds so that the capacity per room was 8, rather than the normal 6.” Mrs. Anauld also described the extensive measures the school went through to make this trip possible while COVID cases were still rising. “Obviously, we needed to make sure that everyone was safe, so we had to double-check vaccination,” said Mrs. Anauld. In addition, the school had to increase testing in the weeks before and after the retreat. At Cedar Lake Camp, students were able to participate in activities such as high-ropes, hiking, canoeing, and crafting. The camp’s amphitheater was also a great space for students from both grades to enjoy events like talent show performances and ninth grade advisory banner presentations together. The Monday night talent show, in particular, was a favorite, as students were able to showcase their skills in singing, gymnastics, acting, and stand-up comedy. Freshman and sophomores also were able to take a break from school work and relax during free time and bonding activities with their advisories. Even though they had only started attending Sage a few weeks prior to the trip, the freshmen class enjoyed themselves during this highly anticipated event. Freshmen took this outing as an opportunity to connect and bond with their classmates. “I wasn’t too sure going into it, but it was beautiful, we went hiking a lot, and I made a lot of friends on the retreat,” Melody Yu said. “Overall, it was a great
A freshman navigates through a ropes course.
Photo Courtesy of Sage Hill
experience I wish we could do every year.” Freshman Noah Jimenez notes the many new experiences that took place during the trip, explaining that the retreat “gave us the opportunity to connect with our classmates over new activities, failures, and memories.” Sophomores were also excited for the trip, especially after missing out on their freshman retreat last fall. “I was pretty bummed,” said Carisa Koh. However, she ultimately enjoyed the experience, stating, “It was better than I expected and allowed me to try new things.” Students also faced unexpected challenges, particularly towards the end of the trip, when sophomores were unable to head home on schedule due to a shortage of buses. However, students responded to this setback well and made the most of the situation by passing the time with friends by playing cards or video games. “It was certainly very interesting,” sophomore Kevin Hu said. “We had to wait an additional four hours, but we made it work at the camp and rested well on the bus.” Even through a year of adversities, overcoming the difficulties that came up along the way made the retreat all the more memorable for those who took part in the unique experience. As Mrs. Anauld explained, “the beautiful thing about retreat is that people get to know others that they wouldn’t have and you get out of your comfort zone.” Photo Courtesy of Sage Hill Instagram
The sophomores play limbo as they wait for their bus to arrive.
The Bolt October 2021 Sage Hill School
elves To Retreat
Photo Courtesy of Sage Hill Instagram
Juniors Sarah Fan and Coco Hu smile from the foam pit.
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Photo Courtesy of Sage Hill Instagram
The juniors line up for a game of dodgeball.
In the Air and Under the Water: Juniors and seniors relax during their fun-filled retreats. Ingrid Luo As per custom, Sage Hill juniors and seniors go somewhere exciting every September to loosen up. Last year was an exception, as due to special circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, students instead participated in online games last year. However, this year, things are back on track: juniors traveled to a trampoline park, while seniors stayed on the school campus to take part in ship-building and other pool festivities. At the trampoline park, DEFY OC, juniors could frisk and frolic across various obstacle courses. A large area of the grounds was dedicated to squares
Photo Courtesy of Sage Hill Instagram
of trampolines for students to see how high they could jump. Nearby was a long stretch of reflexive material for others to try leaps or turns. On the far side of the wall was a section with trampolines made of the bounciest canvases for the daring to undertake complex flips. Besides these diverse tracks, there were several other activities such as a rock-climbing wall, a dodgeball court, and more. Paul Bergen, a junior, said his favorite moment was “climbing the silks.” From cheering on friends at the sidelines to hollering in excitement after completing a feat, the juniors definitely enjoyed their time there. “The sense of feeling free from jumping up into the air and momentarily floating,” said junior Melody Wu, “was very exhilarating and
Ms. Shiraki’s senior advisory wears matching lifeguard gear.
therapeutic.” Meanwhile, back at the Sage Hill campus, the seniors spent their time taking part in various activities on the ground, as well as in the water. The day started off with a brief costume contest, where seniors were given a theme to follow and fabricate outfits from. Advisories would ultimately be ranked based on whose costumes best enveloped the theme with a flair of creativity. During the costume preparation, students simultaneously constructed their ships to compete for the tournaments in the water. Senior Bobby Kan said his favorite part of the day was “walking to the swimming pool and seeing all the people in costumes.”
After all the contests concluded, awards were given to Dr. Kunte’s advisory for the best costume, Mrs. Rutherfords’s advisory for the most creative boat, Mr. Jorden’s advisory as the first-place winners of the pool race, and Ms. Tekin’s advisory for the most graceful sink. With the competitions wrapped up, the seniors were treated to ice cream. “I enjoyed the unlimited shaved ice and making the boat with my advisory!” senior Megan Shean said. By lunchtime, the juniors had joined the seniors back on campus, where fresh hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chips, and soda were offered to the students: a fulfilling end to the students’ refreshing adventures.
Photo Courtesy of Mrs. Rutherford
Mr. Jorden’s advisory builds their prize-winning cardboard boat.
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The Bolt October 2021 Sage Hill School
Community Club Fair Returns
David Kim | The Bolt
Seniors Jerry Hu and Gunnar Lindeman read a club’s magazine. Xinyi XIe
Sage Hill hosted its annual Club Fair at Wilkin’s Town Square during X-block on Tuesday, September 21. The campus’s reopening at the beginning of the school year has brought back the tradition of in-person club fairs, where representatives from student-led clubs set up their tables at Wilkin’s Town Square to welcome prospective club members. Students could circle the tables to sign themselves up for as many clubs and organizations as they were interested in. There was no shortage of clubs to choose from—the event featured more than fifty returning and new student-led clubs. Many Sage students are excited for this opportunity to start and join clubs, especially now that club meetings are
David Kim | The Bolt
Students gather in Town Square as dozens of clubs advertise themselves.
held in-person. “Clubs are a great way for us to interact with classmates of similar interests,” said junior Linqian Fu. By starting or joining a club, students can also pursue their passions or learn something new. “I wish to create a space for everyone to share their outlooks on different perspectives of life and inspire each other,” said sophomore Rong Bao, the founder of the new Philo-Chocolate Society, where chocolate lovers come together to participate in semi-formal discussions on topics in philosophy while eating chocolate. Besides the Philo-Chocolate Society, Sage Hill students have also founded several other new clubs this year, including the DND club, Moxie, the Fabulous Foodies, Aquaponics club, Financial
Management club, the Civil Engagement and Political Involvement Club, the Visual Media Club, Meet in the Middle, OCCares, Sage Hill Psychology club, Teen’s Hunger Alliance, ASTAR, the Sage Hill Medical Club, and the Student Advisory Club, as well as the Discovery and Diction club. The resumption of in-person learning has seen the revival of many preexisting clubs as well. These returning clubs include the Sage Hill Surf Club, Film Club, Sage Hill Coders, Recycle-holics, Flare Magazine, E-sports Club, Doctors of Tomorrow, World Wishes, and ACEing Autism. If students missed the Club Fair in September, they can still check out the list of student-led clubs, which Mr. Campeau sent out by email to contact the leaders of any clubs they are interested in.
Spring at Sage Is Taking Flight Trips & Seminars Unveiled Noe Lee
David Kim | The Bolt
Faculty members advertise their Spring at Sage trips to the students.
students in all grades. “This year I think I want to do the sewing rebellion with Dr. Kunte,” said On Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, Sage Hill senior Olivia Borland. “I was considering students gathered in the library and gym travelling, but the opportunities offered for the big reveal of the opportunities [on and around campus] are just as cool in offered through the renowned “Spring at my opinion. The last two years [of Spring Sage” program. Staring at the screens, at Sage] were kind of disappointing, but the excitement and energy was palpable I’m really excited for what’s to come this in the atmosphere. spring.” Before the presentation, Program Some would argue that the “wow” Head Sara Graham said, “[she couldn’t] wait to unveil this year’s unique offerings,” factor of the workshops closer to home is lessened in comparison to a trip to and her video of travel opportunities had upper and underclassmen on the edge of an island faraway. However, many other students like Borland are just as stoked their seats. to participate in activities and seminars After two years of abnormal Spring without flying halfway around the world. at Sage opportunities, most grades No matter what choice Sage students didn’t know what to expect. Only the make for this spring, there will be plenty senior class has had only one normal of opportunities for fun, bonding, and year of Spring at Sage while some have new experiences. Applications for Spring had none. But whether they were drawn at Sage seminars and trips are due on in by the quirky and creative seminars, trips across the globe, or domestic travel Thursday, Oct. 28. More information about opportunities, the video presentation and the program offerings can be found on the Sage Center Canvas page. the fair booths piqued the interests of
Community Sophie Qiu
The Bolt October 2021 Sage Hill School
Sage Spotlight: The Sage Hill Medical Club
Walking into Sage Hill Club Fair is like browsing an exotic bazaar. The air is buzzing with conversation and collaboration as I take in the vast array of new clubs. I walk along the rows of posters and tables, and one particular club catches my eye. A large white poster with bright blue and green letters announces “Sage Hill Medical Club.” The Sage Hill Medical Club is a newly founded club this year inspired by two objectives: channel interests and future goals while also serving the community. “I had two topics in mind,” Choi said. “I wanted to both give back to the community while doing something that would correspond with what I wanted to do in the future. The result of that was the Sage Hill Med Club.” Although neither Ryan nor Eddie have run a club like this before, Ryan has experience being co-president of the chess club, and he hopes that this knowledge will help guide him in the right direction. Sage Hill Medical Club focuses on giving high schoolers an opportunity to prepare for a future in the medical field, while also giving students a chance to give back to the community. The co-founders provide members over the age of 15 with official volunteering opportunities at St. Jude Providence Hospital, and members over 16 can volunteer at CHOC Children’s Hospital. Don’t worry freshmen, you can join too! Ryan also said that “we know that there are age requirements for volunteering at hospitals, so we also have volunteer opportunities for the Red Cross.” Volunteer opportunities at the hospitals can range from working with actual patients, to doing clerical jobs, to special event support. Volunteers must commit to a consistent shift every week to be recognized as a volunteer, and it is important that they also abide by all patient confidentiality guidelines, customer service expectations, and hospital policies. At the Red Cross, volunteers can expect to host and help out at blood drives, create disaster kits, train in the emergency medical
Sophomores Brandon Lee and Ryan Choi represent the Med Club during Club Fair.
response to disasters, and also can participate in any other events as long as they are approved by the school and the Red Cross. The club is heavily influenced by the co-founders’ interests. Eddie’s favorite subject is biology. He says that it “definitely impacted my decision in creating this club because biology aligns with the club in multiple aspects.” He also says that his general interest in the sciences helped influence him to co-found this club. Ryan says that even since elementary school, his favorite subjects have been math and science. He says that his knowledge in these subjects “impacted both my decisions to pursue a medical career and create this
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David Kim | The Bolt
club.” Regarding their own future goals, Eddie says that he plans on pursuing a career in the medical field as a biomedical engineer. Ryan also plans on pursuing a medical career, though he’s not sure which profession he plans on choosing. He hopes to either “be an orthodontist or work in a surgeon-related profession.” Eddie and Ryan are both excited to kick off their club in this new school year, and they hope many others choose to get involved! You can contact them at 24yange@sagehillschool. org and 24choij@sagehillschool.org for more information on how to join the club.
Movie Review: Not Sure What He Is…But It Definitely Isn’t All That! Noe Lee
TikTok has taken over the online world, causing many young, beautiful people to be cast under the spotlight. Addison Rae Easterling is a 20-year-old woman who went viral because of her dancing and lip-syncing TikTok videos. Easterling has received her fair share of backlash throughout her social media career, but after the release of her new Netflix original movie, He’s All That, the Internet swarmed over the failed movie. With
a 31% Rotten Tomatoes score, I did not have high expectations going into the movie. He’s All That wasn’t that bad. With that being said, it was definitely not good. A teeny bopper plot with a predictable plot twist and an unnecessary makeover… it’s been done before. Easterling’s acting was a bit awkward, which I expected based on her lack of experience in the film industry. With random dance breaks, cringey one-liners, and a cliché storyline, He’s
All That will most likely be forgotten in a couple months. However, this movie has brought an argument to the table that many shied away from previously: Are TikTok-ers real celebrities? Should they be treated as such? Many take issue with how easily these young stars were able to achieve fame and fortune, but this seemingly glamorous lifestyle at such a young age comes at what cost?
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The Bolt October 2021 Sage Hill School
Backpage
In Favor of a Land Value Tax Winston Zuo
As Californians, we are bombarded with reminders of this state’s enormous housing affordability crisis. Before the pandemic, in January 2020, there were an estimated 161,000 homeless people living in California. Californian cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles frequently top lists of the least affordable American cities. Meanwhile, investors distort housing prices through real estate speculation, leaving many houses unoccupied for long periods of time. However, a possible solution may lie in the writings of a certain 19th-century political economist. Henry George was born on September 2, 1839, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following an eventful life as a foremast boy and a gold prospector in California, Henry George became a journalist and political economist. In New York City, he saw that landowners who buy up land in growing cities can build massive fortunes simply by speculating on property without contributing any value to the economy. Based on his observations of poverty throughout the U.S., George wrote Progress and Poverty. George asserted that land is not created by any person. Therefore, no one has a moral right to own land and exclude others from using it. To charge rent on land would be like charging for air (another natural resource, needed by all and created by none.) George argued that landowners should compensate others for depriving them of access to land by paying a land value tax, a levy on the unimproved value of the land. Unlike traditional property taxes, a land value tax doesn’t tax improvements made on that land like buildings or other infrastructure. In this way, replacing a property tax with a land value tax encourages more efficient use of land because a land value tax no longer punishes developers for improving the land. Moreover, a land value tax disincentivizes land speculation. Any increases in land prices will be reflected in the land value tax, which makes land speculation less profitable and encourages land speculators to either sell their land or put the land to more productive use. This is a large reason that economists from Adam Smith to Paul Krugman have advocated for a land value tax in one form or another. Even Milton Friedman,
Xinyi Xie | The Bolt
a staunch opponent of taxation, once quipped that a land-value tax was the “least bad tax.” Land value taxes also work to address the wealth inequality which for many Americans is deeply rooted in the unaffordability of homes. Since the Second World War, the gradual rise of home prices has increased upward mobility and generational wealth for millions of Americans. However, as wages stagnate and housing becomes more expensive, the virtuous cycle of homeownership has been broken for many Americans. By incentivizing land development, a land value tax makes homeownership more affordable and allows more people to gain access to wealth accumu-
lation. Despite his American origins, Henry George’s ideas have found more widespread adoption overseas. In Taiwan, the efficient use of land is even more important, as it is an island. Land value taxation is used as part of a larger program to capture the profits of rapid urbanization and economic growth in the country. In Estonia, following the breakup of the Soviet Union, land value taxes found use in cultivating the efficient use of land. As a result, around 90% of residences are owner-occupied compared to 67.4% in the United States. This is not to say that a single land value tax would solve problems of homelessness and
housing unaffordability by itself. These are complicated issues with more than one solution. Land value taxation also faces several challenges against implementation. First of all, land is quite difficult to value. The price and value of the buildings have to be subtracted from the sales price, which is a tricky process to get right. Secondly, changes to property taxation policies, especially in California, are politically difficult to get across and would face opposition from land speculators or hesitant homeowners. However, none of these challeng es are insurmountable, nor do they outweigh the benefits of a land value tax.