We call this course Economics as if God Cared. The United States has no formal established church, yet matters of religion keep popping in political campaigns. What has the Judeo-Christian-Muslim religious tradition to do with questions of political economy? One perspective is to ask how “God” advises us to organize our economic life. According to …
Continue reading “April 16 Monday: What has religion to do with political economy?”
This term we’ll offer four courses in seven sections, including our first south suburban class in decades (Progress & Poverty at the Blue Island Public Library.) The schedule includes links to the course descriptions. As always, each course requires only a $25 registration fee, and you’re welcome to sit in on the first session before …
Continue reading “Winter 2012 begins at the Henry George School”
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 …
Continue reading “Wednesday: The Political Economy Book Club reads Adam Smith”
[The following, originally posted in December, 2011, remains relevant and has received minor edits.] The mission of the Henry George School is to make available to everyone an education in political economy and social philosophy, based primarily on the works of Henry George. Anyone who understands George’s ideas knows the cause of poverty, and knows …
“Responsible” politicians and pundits say that we face a tradeoff among higher taxes, reduced government services, and more public debt, lest current trends lead to ruinous inflation resulting in all three. Those aren’t the only choices, and certainly not the best ones, asserts HGS instructor Chuck Metalitz. Raising taxes on production leads economies to a …
The December 10 showing of Dr. Strangelove has been rescheduled for January 21.
…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 …
Our last Progress & Poverty course of 2011 is an afternoon class, starting Thursday, Nov 17, 2:30 PM, at 28 E. Jackson. This is the modern version, just five class sessions to understand the nature of wealth and the principles which determine who gets it– and who doesn’t. Instructor for this section will be Bob …
Continue reading “Last chance this year for Progress & Poverty”
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 …
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”) …
