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

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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 27, 2:30 PM: Progress & Poverty course

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credit: Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (HikingArtist) via Flickr (cc)

For those wishing to learn the root cause of worsening poverty on an afternoon schedule, our final Winter term Progress & Poverty course starts this Monday, February 27.  This is the modern version of the course, meeting for five consecutive Mondays thru March 26.  Class starts at 2:30. As always, you’re welcome to attend the first session without charge; continuing for the complete course requires a total fee of only $25

If this schedule isn’t convenient for you, check back in a couple of weeks when we will have our Spring term schedule posted.

 

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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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Jan 23 and 28: Two more Progress & Poverty opportunities

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photo credit: Daniel Chaeh via Flickr (cc)

If you have not taken, or would like to refresh your knowledge of, Progress & Poverty, you’ll have two opportunities to start this week.

At our Loop location, a Monday night class starts January 23 at 6 PM.  This is the modern version, and Bob Jene will be the instructor

In the South Suburbs, our Saturday afternoon class starts January 28 in Blue Island. This class meets for five Saturdays, but each is effectively a double-session, 1 to 4 PM.  More about this class is here.

Like all Henry George School courses, both of these are “almost free,” requiring only a $25 registration fee to help pay materials costs.  All needed texts are included. And you’re welcome to sit in on the first session before deciding whether to register.

 

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Jan 21 (Sat) 2 PM: Dr. Strangelove

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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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Thursday, January 12: Republican Presidential Candidates and their Economic Advisors

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image credit: Donkey Hotey via Flickr (cc)

On  Bob Jene will look at eight Republican presidential candiates, analyzing their proposals to “fix” the economy. (Yeah, there used to be more than eight, and by the time of the talk there probably will be fewer than eight, but Bob is working with eight.) He’ll also consider the views of their advisors, and evaluate the proposals from a geoist perspective.

Thursday, January 12, at 6 PM. As always, this talk is free and open to all, at 28 E. Jackson #1004, Chicago.  Questions? 312/362-9302.

 

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How I made a million dollars in Chicago real estate: I $tole it from you!

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image credit: Ken Lund 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 Wednesday January 18 at 6 PM, is also the first session of our Progress & Poverty course (modern version), which will continue on Wednesdays thru February 15.  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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