Events

Jun
13
Fri
Invisible Robbery Tour @ leaves from Henry George School, 30 E Adams #1207
Jun 13 @ 6:00 pm
Power structure along the tour route (Henry George School photo)
Power structure along the tour route (Henry George School photo0

Originating as a field trip for students completing our Progress & Poverty course, this stroll thru downtown Chicago examines some of the ways that average people, and the community as a whole, are deprived of their just earnings. Among other things we’ll see who benefits from the expensive infrastructure and “economic development” projects, how Thomas Jefferson wanted Chicago to fund its public schools, what happens when a well-located building burns down, and how land speculators get productive workers to pay their taxes. Expect to walk about 2 km, maybe we’ll stop for snacks (individual settlement) along the way.

A $10 donation is requested from those who are not recent or current HGS students or donors, but nobody will be excluded due to lack of funds. You can make your donation by credit card here, or bring cash or a check.

Sep
20
Sat
Invisible Robbery Tour @ leaves from Henry George School, 30 E Adams #1207
Sep 20 @ 2:00 pm
Stolen Statue Repossessed/Henry George School photo
Stolen Statue Repossessed/Henry George School photo

Originating as a field trip for students completing our Progress & Poverty course, this stroll thru downtown Chicago examines some of the ways that average people, and the community as a whole, are deprived of their just earnings. Among other things we’ll see who benefits from the expensive infrastructure and “economic development” projects, how Thomas Jefferson wanted Chicago to fund its public schools, what happens when a well-located building burns down, and how land speculators get their taxes paid by productive workers. Hardcopy sourced notes will be provided. Expect to walk about 2 km; maybe we’ll stop for snacks (individual settlement) along the way.

A $10 donation is requested from those who are not recent or current HGS students or donors, but nobody will be excluded due to lack of funds. If you have a paypal account, you can make your donation by credit card using the link below, or better yet bring cash or a check.


Feb
14
Tue
No Wall, No Privilege: How True Free Trade Can Raise American Wages and End Poverty @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Feb 14 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm
No Wall, No Privilege: How True Free Trade Can Raise American Wages and End Poverty @ Overflow Coffee Bar | Chicago | Illinois | United States

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.

Mar
3
Sat
Illinois is not Broke @ Signature Office
Mar 3 @ 12:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Henry George School photo of a gentrifying area by Chuck Metalitz

Cook County isn’t broke either.  Neither is Chicago

In this session you will learn about the legitimate earnings that our communities generate every day, and how collecting these earnings would allow removal of barriers to productive work which make it unnecessarily difficult for working people to earn a living.

There’s plenty of waste and fraud throughout government, but that’s not the focus here.  Even an honest and efficient government requires revenue, and the source of that revenue determines whether we can have prosperity and freedom, or — something else.

PREREGISTRATION MANDATORY.  This program is free, but due to building policies  you must pre-register by email or by phoning us at 312 450-2906.

Mar
8
Thu
Illinois is not Broke @ Signature Office
Mar 8 @ 6:15 pm – 8:00 pm
Henry George School photo of a gentrifying area by Chuck Metalitz

Cook County isn’t broke either.  Neither is Chicago

In this session you will learn about the legitimate earnings that our communities generate every day, and how collecting these earnings would allow removal of barriers to productive work which make it unnecessarily difficult for working people to earn a living.

There’s plenty of waste and fraud throughout government, but that’s not the focus here.  Even an honest and efficient government requires revenue, and the source of that revenue determines whether we can have prosperity and freedom, or — something else.

PREREGISTRATION MANDATORY.  This program is free, but due to building policies  you must pre-register by email or by phoning us at 312 450-2906.

Oct
16
Wed
Political Economy Book Club discusses Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments (session 1) @ Bridgeport Coffeehouse (Loop location)
Oct 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Adam Smith graphic
image credit: Behance CC BY-ND 4.0

Decades before Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith wrote what he seems to have considered a superior work, Theory of Moral Sentiments.  He wrote:

How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.

Wikipedia asserts:

Smith critically examines the moral thinking of his time, and suggests that conscience arises from dynamic and interactive social relationships through which people seek “mutual sympathy of sentiments.”[74] His goal in writing the work was to explain the source of mankind’s ability to form moral judgement, given that people begin life with no moral sentiments at all. Smith proposes a theory of sympathy, in which the act of observing others and seeing the judgements they form of both others and oneself makes people aware of themselves and how others perceive their behaviour.

The Theory of Moral Sentiments has been printed in numerous editions, and is also available free on line.  Smith revised the book throughout his lifetime; it’s best to avoid the first edition, and choose one published after his death in 1790.

In this session we’ll discuss parts 1-3 of the book, taking up parts 4-7 on November 20,

 

Nov
20
Wed
Political Economy Book Club discusses Theory of Moral Sentiments (session 2) @ Bridgeport Coffee (loop location)
Nov 20 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Adam Smith graphic
image credit: Behance CC BY-ND 4.0

This is the second and concluding session for this book, covering parts 4-7.