May 16, Wed, Political Economy Book Club discusses Bastiat’s “Essays on Political Economy”

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Image of Frédéric Bastiat from Wikimedia

This work was selected to coincide with the G8 meetings the subsequent weekend (which were to have been in Chicago but have been relocated).  Bastiat was “indeed a lucid and superb writer, whose brilliant and witty essays and fables to this day are remarkable demolitions of protectionism and all forms of government subsidy and control,” according to economist Murray Rothbard.  The work being discussed, Essays on Political Economy, is freely available in various written and audio formats.

At 6 PM on Wednesday, May 16.  Optional RSVP to convenor Bob Matter by email or phone 312 362 9302.  The event, at 28 E Jackson #1004, is free (donations welcome) and open to all.

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May 12 2PM Saturday: Admirable Crichton (free movie)

from the 1902 stage play
from the 1902 stage play

source: Wikimedia

 

Kenneth More stars as William Crichton, the highly knowledgeable and efficient butler in the London household of the Earl of Loam (Cecil Parker) and his family. Though Crichton is the true master of the household, he knows his place, honouring the tightly regulated social structure of late-nineteenth century England.

On a trip on the Earl’s steam yacht to the South Seas, the family and its servants are shipwrecked. The family become marooned on a desert island, and only Crichton proves to have the skills and resourcefulness to keep everyone alive.  Within a few months, the social order has been reversed: Crichton, who becomes affectionately known as ‘Guv’, takes control of affairs, while his former employers become his willing and eager servants. [from Wikipedia]

Based on J M Barrie’s 1902 stage play of the same name. The U. S. release was titled “Paradise Lagoon.” Lewis Gilbert — UK– 1957 — 94 minutes

Presented at 2 PM on Saturday May 12,  in our Curious Georgists go to the Movies series. free (donations welcome) with refreshments and discussion following the film.

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Sat April 14, Movie: Lord of the Flies

image credit: Andy Martini via flickr (cc)

Lord of the Flies is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding about a group of British boys stuck on a deserted island who try to govern themselves, with disastrous results. Its stances on the already-controversial subjects of human nature and individual welfare versus the common good earned it position 68 on the American Library Association’s list of the 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990–1999. (from Wikipedia)

Two feature films of this story have been made, in 1963 and 1990.  We’ll watch the original 1963 black and white version directed by Peter Brook which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

At 28 E Jackson #1004. Movie at 2:00, followed by discussion and refreshments.  All are welcome and admission is free, with donations welcome.  For further information contact Bob Jene at 312 362 9302, or Bob Matter rjmatter@gmail.com.

 

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Sat. March 10, 2012 – 2 p.m. “The American Ruling Class”

credit: Wikipedia


The American Ruling Class

Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper’s Magazine, wrote this “cleverly contrived non-fiction film” (New York Press) that follows two fictional Yale grads around as they ask some of America’s cultural, political, and economic elite (Walter Cronkite, James Baker III, Robert Altman, Pete Seeger, Lawrence Summers, Kurt Vonnegut, Bill Bradley, Howard Zinn) to define the American ruling class.

The film premiered at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival, followed by a party at the New York Mercantile Exchange. John Kirby—USA—2005—88 mins. A discussion follows the film. Free and open to the public. Donations kindly accepted.

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Feb. 22, 2012 – Political Economy Book Club continues with Wealth of Nations

Building on site where Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations
Building on site where Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations

source: Wikimedia Commons

Our Political Economy Book Club continues its discussion of Book I of Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations”.  This session covers the second half of Book I (chapters 10 & 11). “The Wealth of Nations” is available for free download at http://www.gutenberg.org/. Feel free to participate even if you haven’t yet read the book and are simply interested in economics. Bob Matter leads the discussion. Wednesday, Feb 22, 2012, 6 PM, at 28 E Jackson #1004. Free, donations welcome.

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Feb 11 Movie: The Cartel

Henry George School photo

This documentary on much-needed education reforms is a clear-headed, gripping indictment.  Using New Jersey as a case study, director Bob Bowdon lays out why one of the country’s most expensive school districts has one of the highest dropout rates and lowest standardized test scores.  The problem is corruption, union bureaucracy, and reactionary politics.  “Where the film really comes alive is in its giving a human face to those affected by the state’s thuggish education system” (Slant Magazine).  Bob Bowden–  USA — 2009 — 90 minutes.

This free presentation in our Curious Georgists go to the Movies series starts 2 PM on Saturday, February 11, at 28 E Jackson #1004.  More info at 312 362 9302 or bobj@hgchicago.org.

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Jan 21 (Sat) 2 PM: Dr. Strangelove

Peter Sellers in one of his three Dr. Strangelove roles
Peter Sellers in one of his three Dr. Strangelove roles

source: Wikimedia Commons

Curious Georgists Go to the Movies present Dr. Strangelove.

You need to have a unique (and twisted) sense of humor to find nuclear holocaust entertaining, but director Stanley Kubrick does a marvelous job of balancing his truely bizzare humor with the gut-wrenching terror felt in the Cold War era.

The political satire stars Peter Sellers portraying three roles, including the title role of Dr. Strangelove, as well as the U.S. President and Group Captain Mandrake, a British soldier under the command of the insane General Ripper (Sterling Hayden). Believing politicians to be unable, and untrained to deal with the growing Russian threat during the Cold War, Ripper breaks protocol and attempts to initiate nuclear war with Russia.

– Neil Wertanen

Refreshments and discussion will follow. At 28 E. Jackson #1004, 2 PM Saturday January 21.  Free, donations welcome.

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Wednesday: The Political Economy Book Club reads Adam Smith

Credit: Kris Krug via Flickr (cc)

An inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, generally referred to by its shortened title The Wealth of Nations, is the magnum opus of the Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith. First published in 1776, it is a reflection on economics at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and argues that free market economies are more productive and beneficial to their societies. The book is a fundamental work in classical economics. Henry George disputed some of Smith’s reasoning, but described him as the “founder” of the science of political economy.

This session will discuss the first half of Book I.

Political Economy Book Club meets 6 PM Wednesday, December 14, at 28 E. Jackson #1004. Free, donations, welcome.

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Film: Defiance

Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, and Alexa Davalos star in this World War II movie based on the remarkable true story of the Bielski partisans.

Partisans operating in the forest of Belarus
Partisans operating in the forest of Belarus

Image from jewishvirtuallibrary.org

In 1941, Jewish brothers band together in the Belarussian forest, taking up arms against Axis forces and rescuing some 1,000 Jewish refugees. “Defiance presents itself as an explicit correction of the cultural record, a counterpoint to all those lachrymose World War II tales of helplessness and victimhood” (A. O. Scott, The New York Times). Based on a book by Nechama Tec.  Letterboxed.  Edward Zwick–USA–2008–137 Minutes

Saturday, November 12, 2:00 PM, at 28 E Jackson #1004. Free, donations welcome. Refreshments and discussion follow. Information at 312 262 9302.

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