International trade has been a continuing issue throughout our history. The issues Henry George confronted in the late 19th century were similar to those raised in the recent election. His careful analysis showed that both sides were wrong, and proposed a trade policy to raise real wages of working Americans.
Despite huge social, technological, and demographic changes since George’s time, his analysis requires only very minor updates, and concludes that today, again, both sides are wrong. Take this opportunity to understand and evaluate for yourself a proposal to achieve widespread prosperity, here and now, thru True Free Trade.
This free presentation by Henry George School instructor Chuck Metalitz is adapted from our “Protection or Free Trade” course.
Between 1948 and 1973, Americans’ real wages rose almost as fast as their productivity. After 1973, productivity grew 147% but wages rose only 19%. This raises two questions:
(1) If workers getting less, who is getting more?
(2) Is there a way to restore the balance?
To solve the problem of poverty, and the many other problems that follow from it, ordinary workers need higher wages. George Menninger describes how to raise wages without interfering in the free market and without taking anyone’s earnings.
George Menninger is an instructor at the Henry George School of Chicago, and attendees at this free program will have the opportunity to sign up for his Progress & Poverty course.
No reservation is required, but you can let us know by email that you’re coming.
Between 1948 and 1973, Americans’ real wages rose almost as fast as their productivity. After 1973, productivity grew 147% but wages rose only 19%. This raises two questions:
(1) If workers getting less, who is getting more?
(2) Is there a way to restore the balance?
To solve the problem of poverty, and the many other problems that follow from it, ordinary workers need higher wages. George Menninger describes how to raise wages without interfering in the free market and without taking anyone’s earnings.
George Menninger is an instructor at the Henry George School of Chicago, and attendees at this free program will have the opportunity to sign up for his Progress & Poverty course.
No reservation is required, but you can let us know by email that you’re coming.
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)
In the 19th Century, Henry George proposed to end poverty by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. America took a different path, but George’s proposal remains valid and would still provide widespread prosperity. Chuck Metalitz explains.
Attendees at this free event will have the opportunity to sign up for the Progress & Poverty course which examines these ideas in much greater detail.
George Menninger will teach his One Hour Henry George class to college students in a paid focus group.
Recent books by Scott Baker and Tom Tresser (ed) assert that America is not Broke and Chicago is not Broke. They’re right, of course, and neither is Illinois. Using principles outlined by Henry George, this presentation will show how the community could choose to collect the value it creates, funding its needs without discouraging productive work.
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.
We’ll gather in a rundown south Evanston back yard [you get the exact address when you RSVP; be assured it is half a mile to publc transportation.] to commemorate Henry George’s 178th birthday (actually he was born September 2, but by tradition we use Labor Day). This year, we’re also celebrating our transition to a virtual school using multiple locations, no longer paying monthly rent to a landlord.
Thanks to the generosity of HGS supporters past and present, everyone who’s completed any HGS course, ever, is welcome to attend without charge. Bring a significant other, or a friend who might find HGS of interest, also no charge. And of course no charge for your minor dependents. We hope to see people who might have taken a course years ago and almost lost touch with us. Come by, meet some of the new students and graduates, as well as the volunteer staff.
There will be food, drink, a lot of conversation and maybe some productive discussion about how to help our community understand how the economy works, the fundamental principles which can be harnessed to bring prosperity and freedom.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us know by Friday September 1 whether you’ll be coming. It would be great, but not required, if you can bring something to share. Monetary donations are also extremely welcome, and can be made here, or by check to the School, or at the event.