“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 …
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No Film December 10
The December 10 showing of Dr. Strangelove has been rescheduled for January 21.
What the Rich Own…
…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 …
Last chance this year for Progress & Poverty
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 …
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No Farms, No Food
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 …
Fiscal Stimulus?
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”) …
Economic Cycle Tour — Saturday
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 …
Invisible Robbery Tour– Saturday
It’s not just traditional Chicago/Illinois corruption that robs working people of the wealth they make. Even squeaky-clean governments customarily allow a privileged few to levy a toll on the rest of us. This can’t be prevented in a democratic society as long as most of us don’t understand what we’re being robbed of. Originally designed …
Robin Hood: The Movie
To be precise, Ridley Scott’s 2010 version (not the topiary version shown here). Other than Robinson Crusoe, whose film we watched in August, is there any fictional/historical character who shows up more often in discussions of political/economic issues than Robin Hood? Curious Georgists go to this movie this afternoon (Saturday) 2 PM free, details.
The American Monetary Act
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 …