What the Rich Own…

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Administrator

image credit: Penywise at Morguefile

…and how they can be made to share it.

Attempts to “tax the rich” have led us to exempt about half the population from paying federal income tax, while creating all kinds of other levies that discourage production while falling heavily on working people. But if we look at who “the rich” really are, and where most of their income originates, we see that, rather than focusing on the amount of a person’s income, we could instead look at the source. Producing goods or services that people want– that increase the overall satisfaction in the community– is fundamentally different from securing, protecting, and manipulating privilege. Chuck Metalitz will explain what privilege is, how it causes wealth to be concentrated in a small part of the population, and what could be done about it. 6:00 PM at 28 E. Jackson #1004. Free, donation welcome.

No Farms, No Food

Posted on October 31, 2011 by BobJene

Detail from photo by: t0msk (via Flickr)

Urban sprawl threatens to destroy much valuable farm land. We will look at data from one of the leading national organizations trying to mitigate this damage, The American Farmland Trust (AFT). Among other things they buy development rights from farmland owners to ensure the land’s continued use in agriculture, and facilitate community supported agriculture, which makes family farms more viable. The Georgist fiscal reform encourages more conservative and productive use of all land.

Presentation by HGS instructor Bob Jene, Wednesday November 16, 6 PM at 28 E Jackson #1004. Free. Information at: 312 362 9302.

Fiscal Stimulus?

Posted on October 24, 2011 by BobJene

Photo credit: Lord Jim via Flickr

What is the best policy to revive the economy and improve the incomes of working people? Bailing out insolvent banks, and asking them to lend more money? Taxes on consumption? Simplify the income tax and flatten the rates? Or just print a bunch of money?

HGS instructor Bob Jene knows the answer (which is “no”) and will explain how a real fiscal stimulus could work. Will the Real Fiscal Stimulus Please Stand Up?, Thursday, November 10, 6 PM, at 28 E. Jackson #1004. It’s free, of course, donations welcome to help pay the rent. Need any more information? call Continue reading →

Economic Cycle Tour — Saturday

Posted on October 16, 2011 by Administrator

Photo Credit: Vincent Desjardins

This bicycle tour will look at the city parks developed on both banks of the Chicago River. We will cycle through the intense development of the old Chicago Dock and Canal property on the north side of the river facilitated by the $35 million bascule bridge on Columbus Drive which made the property much more accessible. This was all on the taxpayers’ dime. Finally we will stop at Trump Tower before heading back. Bob Jene is your guide.

Bring your own bike to this free cycle tour which departs 28 E. Jackson at 1 PM on Saturday, October 22, 2011. For further information contact Bob Jene at 312 362 9302 or bobj@hgchicago.org.

Film: Defiance

Posted on October 16, 2011 by BobMatter

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

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.

If you’re rich, you probably stole it from us

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Administrator

Who made this worth $1.75 million?

Progress & Poverty, the basic introduction you need to understand where Occupy* can lead us, starts this Wednesday, October 12, 6 PM at 28 E. Jackson. As always, the first session is free, more info is here. Because the instructor for this section is Chicago real estate speculator George Menninger, the first session will be his presentation “How I Made $1 million in Chicago Real Estate: I Stole if from You.”

The American Monetary Act

Posted on September 20, 2011 by BobJene

Monday, September 26, 6 PM at 28 E Jackson #1004. Price: FREE.

Even Henry George recognized that a just and prosperous economy requires a proper system of money. The American Monetary Institute has proposed the American Monetary Act (pdf) to address this issue. Bob Jene will examine this proposed Constitutional Amendment, and compare it with Henry George’s ideas on money, as documented in a talk on the subject by AMI President Steve Zarlenga.

For those interested in further discussion on the subject, it is still possible to register for AMI’s Monetary Reform Conference, in Chicago, Sept 29-Oct 2.

High Cost of Government Revenue

Posted on March 10, 2011 by BobJene

Income Tax Dancing School

photo credit: Jaygoldman via Flickr (cc)

This Power Point® presentation looks at the 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 protio of the revenue collected. There has to be a better way. Presenter Bob Jene will point one out.

This free presentation starts at 6:00 PM Tuesday, March 13, at 28 E. Jackson #1004.