Events

Dec
29
Tue
Jim Frederiksen: Discussion with Georgist dignitary
Dec 29 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Come visit with Jim Frederiksen, one of our more innovative thinkers in presenting Georgist ideas in a modern context. You’ll be able to hear Jim’s thoughts on both ongoing and historical research, and his criticisms of modern economic thought.

May
3
Tue
Defective by Design: International Day Against DRM @ Henry George School
May 3 @ 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm

[Please note: There is no need to stay the full 3½ hours of this event.  Come when you’d like and leave when you wish. ]

How much stuff do you think you “own,” but really only have a limited license to use in specific ways? You may be surprised to learn who is restricting your freedom to innovate and share information.  As software-driven products become more common, how can you be sure that your possessions aren’t working against you?  Is that the price we have to pay to live in an advanced economy?  It need not be.

Find out how software freedom fits into the “liberty means justice” political economy that we teach, why and how we use open source software wherever possible (and it almost always is).  Discussion and videos presented in cooperation with the Free Software Foundation.

Meanwhile, to learn more about DRM and why it might be a bad thing, visit Defective by Design.

Jul
13
Wed
No Farms No Food @ Henry George School suite 1207
Jul 13 @ 6:00 pm
House construction on farmland Sheboygan Co credit: Brett VA
House construction on farmland Sheboygan Co — credit: Brett VA

As farmland yields to “higher-value” uses, how (and how well and how inexpensively) will we eat? Bob Jene reviews data from a leading agricultural preservation organization, the American Farmland Trust (AFT). Among other things they buy development rights from landowners to insure continued farming use, and attempt to facilitate community supported agriculture which makes family farms more viable. A Georgist fiscal reform encourages more conservative and productive use of all land and reduces sprawl, thus preventing encroachment on farmland.  An alliance with AFT would benefit us both.

Jul
27
Wed
High Cost of Government Revenue @ Henry George School suite 1207
Jul 27 @ 6:00 pm

 

"Chuck on Tax Day" Credit: Chuck Holton cc-licensed
“Chuck on Tax Day” Credit: Chuck Holton cc-licensed

Do we need to suffer like this (and/or pay someone else) in order to fund government?  In this presentation, HGS instructor Bob Jene looks at what it costs to collect income taxes.  The direct cost to the government of operating the Internal Revenue Service is only a small part, as the burden put on the taxpayer, and the diversion of effort from productive uses, should also be considered.

Mar
15
Wed
No Farms, No Food @ Levy Center
Mar 15 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
No Farms, No Food @ Levy Center | Evanston | Illinois | United States

Urban sprawl is threatening to destroy much valuable farmland. 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 farmers to insure the land’s continued use in agriculture and attempt to facilitate community supported agriculture which makes family farms more viable. The Georgist fiscal reform reduces sprawl alleviating pressure on farmland.

(image credit: Kristian Bjornard ; Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0); https://flic.kr/p/8RYWFy)

Jul
11
Tue
Alden Loury on the Costs of Segregation @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Jul 11 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

Metropolitan Planning Council’s Alden Loury will discuss his research into the costs that racial and ethnic segregation impose on all of us here, and might be persuaded to hint at the recommendations to come from phase 2 of the study.  We have a post with a bit more information.

Sep
13
Wed
Orwellian Economics @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Sep 13 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of IngSoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible. It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought – that is, a thought diverging from the principles of IngSoc – should be literally unthinkable, at least so far as thought is dependent on words.

— George Orwell

Dan Sullivan

Something like this has happened to the field of economics, says Dan Sullivan.  Terms which had clear meanings to Adam Smith, J S Mill, and other classical economists have got distorted and redefined– or obliterated–  to prevent serious discussion of economic issues. Going back to the roots of political economy, Dan suggests the real point of a proper science of economics would be to efficiently satisfy the desires of the people, both individually and collectively.

Dan will help us distinguish between “rights” and “privileges,” “investments” and “acquisitions”,  and several distinct concepts that all get called “wealth.” He’ll address the difference between “means of production” and “capital,” and differentiate “human capital” from modern slavery.

You can understand today’s economic issues such as minimum wages, tax policy, international trade, housing costs, and unemployment, but only if you have a clear idea of the fundamental terms.  These terms can be readily comprehended by ordinary people and do not lead to any particular “left” or “right” public policy, but they facilitate informed communication.

There will of course be time for questions and discussion.

Based in Pittsburgh, Dan Sullivan is a popular speaker on economic issues, and Director of Saving Communities

Oct
10
Tue
Introducing Progress & Poverty @ Signature Office
Oct 10 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Photo credit: Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Yes, it is possible to end poverty in America — or any independent nation — by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. Not just the poor, but everyone would have the opportunity to earn a decent living and enjoy better quality of life. Henry George, a prominent American philosopher and economist of the late 19th century, was the most prominent advocate of this reform. His book on the subject, Progress & Poverty, was probably the best-selling nonfiction work of his time, sparked a movement which brought prosperity to several American communities and foreign countries.

Introducing Progress & Poverty is a program by the Henry George School of Chicago, outlining the principles George advocated, how and why they work, and their potential for solving today’s problems in this city and elsewhere.  This program will next be presented on Tuesday, October 10, 6PM to 8PM in the Chicago loop. Attendance is without charge or obligation.  An extended course is also available for those interested.

We regret that due to management practices at the building, we must require pre-registration by email or phone (312 450-2906). If you are interested in the topic but this date and location don’t fit your schedule, please sign up for our announcement list. Also note that the program will be repeated in Edgewater on Sunday afternoon, October 29.

Oct
29
Sun
Introducing Progress & Poverty @ just east of the Berwyn Red Line station
Oct 29 @ 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Photo credit: Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Yes, it is possible to end poverty in America — or any independent nation — by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. Not just the poor, but everyone would have the opportunity to earn a decent living and enjoy better quality of life. Henry George, a prominent American philosopher and economist of the late 19th century, was the most prominent advocate of this reform. His book on the subject, Progress & Poverty, was probably the best-selling nonfiction work of his time, sparked a movement which brought prosperity to several American communities and foreign countries.

Introducing Progress & Poverty is a program by the Henry George School of Chicago, outlining the principles George advocated, how and why they work, and their potential for solving today’s problems in this city and elsewhere.  We’ll present this program on Sunday afternoon, October 29, 3PM to 5PM in the Edgewater neighborhood on Chicago’s north side. Attendance is without charge or obligation.  An extended course is also available for those interested.

Pre-registration by email is encouraged, but not required if space is available.  If you are interested in the topic but this date and location don’t fit your schedule, please sign up for our announcement list. Also note that the same program will be presented October 10 at a loop location.

Jan
4
Thu
Introducing Progress & Poverty @ Levy Center
Jan 4 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Photo credit: Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Yes, it is possible to end poverty in America — or any independent nation — by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. Not just the poor, but everyone would have the opportunity to earn a decent living and enjoy better quality of life. Henry George, a prominent American philosopher and economist of the late 19th century, was the most prominent advocate of this reform. His book on the subject, Progress & Poverty, was probably the best-selling nonfiction work of his time, sparked a movement which brought prosperity to several American communities and foreign countries.

Introducing Progress & Poverty is a program by the Henry George School of Chicago, outlining the principles George advocated, how and why they work, and their potential for solving today’s problems in this city and elsewhere.  We’ll present this program on Thursday afternoon, January 4, at 1PM at 300 Dodge in Evanston (CTA routes 93 and 97 stop nearby). Attendance is without charge or obligation.  An extended course is also available for those interested, with sessions starting January 16 at the Evanston Public Library and January 18 in the loop.

Pre-registration by email or thru Eventbrite is encouraged, but not required if space is available.  If you are interested in the topic but this date and location don’t fit your schedule, please sign up for our announcement list. Also note that a slightly expanded version of the same program will be presented January 11 at a loop location.