[T]hink about what would happen if there were no national parks. You know? The Grand Canyon would be lined with mansions; we’d never see that view. The Everglades would’ve long since been drained and be filled with tract housing and all sorts of ugly development. Yosemite, one of the most beautiful valleys on Earth, would be a gated community. Yellowstone would become Geyser World - something like that. We’re talking about the difference between Pottersville and Bedford Falls. And we choose in It’s a Wonderful Life to live in Bedford Falls; we reject Pottersville. But yet so much of the arguments today are, ‘Wait a minute - that selfishness is very much what America’s about.’ You know what? It’s not what we’re about. We’re about sharing these things in common. It’s about common wealth. Which is a wonderful idea and not Socialism. Because if it’s Socialism, then the people you call at 3 am when your house is on fire - that’s Socialism. And the people who’re in Afghanistan risking their lives - that’s Socialism. And the people who’re picking up your trash - that’s Socialism, too.
— Ken Burns, On The Rachel Maddow Show, September 24th, 2009.
