Taxi, “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.” Too often, we forget the values that have sustained our democracy until they are at risk.

Since Mack completed his manuscript, history has added new chapters of its own — especially through the tumultuous years following the contested 2020 election and Biden’s term then the second Trump administration. The themes Mack explored now feel even more relevant. Property v. Equality: America’s Enduring Political Rivalry offers not just a study of American democracy, but also a lens for understanding how fragile — and how worth preserving — this grand experiment truly is.

When preparing this re-release, I searched for Mack’s acknowledgments but couldn’t find a draft. Still, I want to recognize and thank two people who played meaningful roles. Jack Tatom was instrumental. He not only discussed the book with Mack and offered valuable feedback on several chapters, but he also convinced me that the work should see the light of day after Mack’s passing. Ray Bramhall, a dear friend and colleague from Mack’s UCLA days, also encouraged and supported him through many conversations about the ideas that shaped this book. I know there are many others who influenced Mack’s thinking, and I would surely leave some unmentioned if I tried to list them all. I’m deeply grateful to the circle of friends and colleagues I came to know through Mack — people whose presence enriched my life as much as his.

So why this re-release now? Mack’s writing captured a deep concern — how easily power can expand beyond the limits outlined in our Constitution, and how vital it is that we as citizens remain vigilant. The events of January 6, 2021, and all that followed, underscored exactly what he feared: that democracy is fragile and demands vigilance and attention.

When Property v. Equality was first published, its reach was small — how, after all, does one promote a book without its author’s voice? And with a $60 price tag due to its textbook format, it was out of reach for many readers. This new release brings with it a chance not only to share Mack’s ideas more widely, but to honor his legacy in the way his work deserves.

Working on this edition, I have learned so much about the uniqueness of the American experiment — how extraordinary it truly is, and how easily we take it for granted. The chapter on voting alone struck me deeply. It reminds us how detached we have become from civic life, how often political loyalty substitutes for genuine thought and participation. Once again, Joni Mitchell’s words echo in my mind — “You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”

My hope is that Property v. Equality: America’s Enduring Political Rivalry will encourage readers to pause and reflect — to look closely at the principles that have both challenged and sustained our democracy for nearly 250 years. As we celebrate this incredible milestone in our nation’s history, may we remember that American democracy is not self-sustaining. It depends on us — our engagement, our conscience, and our commitment to justice and equality.

Mack believed deeply in a representative government where the people have an active voice — not just in the present, but in shaping the future. Our democracy is grounded in the rule of law, in equal justice, in checks and balances among branches of government, and in the promise of equal opportunity for all. Those ideals remain as vital now as ever.