Category Archives: Events

May 23 Wed Real Estate 4 Ransom

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What role did real estate play in the crashing of the global economy? Bigger and different than you might think, says this new Australian documentary by Karl Fitzgerald and Gavin Emmanuel. Shot over 5 years, it focuses an economics lens on many of the big picture issues world politics are grappling to deal with. The 40 minute documentary looks at whether genuine freedom has been delivered by the democratic system.

We’ll show the film at 6 PM on May 23, at 28 E Jackson #1004.  There will be time for questions and discussion, and of course refreshments.  The event is free, and donations are welcome.

 

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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)

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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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April 12, Thursday, 6 PM: High Cost of Government Revenue

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photo credit: Ray Tsang ("saturnism") via flickr (cc)

Take a break from preparing “your” income tax returns to attend this Power Point® presentation looking at the real cost of collecting the income tax.  IRS overhead itself represents the direct cost to the government of generating this revenue. Beside that there is the burden put on the taxpayer in filling out his return, the cost of preparers, the cost of representation in case of audit and the dead weight on the economy.  The sum of all these costs represents a sizeable portion of the revenue collected.  There has to be a better way. Presenter Bob Jene will point one out.

Bob’s main source for this talk is James L Payne’s book Costly Returns.

This free presentation starts at 6:00 PM Tuesday, March 13, at 28 E. Jackson #1004.  Further information at 312 362 9302 or bobj@hgchicago.org.

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Sat April 14, Movie: Lord of the Flies

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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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April 10 Tuesday 6 PM: How I made $1,000,000 in Chicago real estate: I $tole it from you

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Photo credit: Anders Sandberg via Flickr (cc)

Successful land speculation is really a matter of capturing for yourself the gains that belong to the community.  George Menninger is one of many who have done it.  Far beyond any need to earn a living, George now spends some of his time explaining how the bad public policy he exploited not only made him rich, but led to continued poverty, unemployment, and even the current economic meltdown. Come to ask him why he does this and whether he is a traitor to the 1%.

George’s talk, on Tuesday April 10 at 6 PM, is also the first session of our Progress & Poverty course (modern version), which will continue on Tuesdays thru May 8.  As with all our courses, the $25 registration fee need not be paid until the end of the first session, and George Menninger will provide a personal and accessible explanation of Henry George’s ideas. You can pre-register here, or just show up.  You are also welcome to attend just this session; there is no obligation or expectation that everyone attending will enroll.

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March 31, Saturday, 1 PM: Invisible Robbery Tour

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image credit: InfoMoto ("Will") via flickr (cc)

Right on the streets of every American community, robbery takes place every day.  How can local, state, and national governments claim they need to tax our labor, when there is so much real value that the community creates but fails to collect? On this walk through central Chicago, we’ll see some of this value, understand who takes it and what it costs us all. Along the way we’ll discuss what a free market is, and how it could make the city a better place.

HGS President Chuck Metalitz is your guide for this tour, which departs 1 PM on March 31 from 28 E. Jackson #1004. Hardcopy sourced notes will be provided. A donation of $10 (cash or check, please) is requested, but this is waived for anyone who was enrolled at the School during 2011 or 2012.

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

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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

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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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