Events

Jun
1
Wed
Political Economy Book Club: Resurrection @ Henry George School
Jun 1 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Tolstoï_-_Résurrection,_trad._anonymeResurrection (1899)
By Leo Tolstoy

This late 19th-century novel about nobleman Dmitri Ivanovich Nekhlyudov’s efforts at redemption after a life of sin is Tolstoy’s last major novel before his death in 1910. The readers will have a complex relationship with the tormented protagonist and his desperate attempts at redemption and forgiveness, since Nekhlyudov’s misguided decisions and youthful errors are often not so dissimilar from our own. Resurrection is a scathing exposition of the myriad prejudices of the man-made justice system and the hypocrisy of the establishment, while it also explores the economic philosophy of Georgism – of which Tolstoy had become a strong advocate toward the end of his life.  [from the Culture Trip]

Political Economy Book Club discussions are open to everyone interested, without charge, and the text (in English translation) is available free from various sources including archive.org, who also offer a free audiobook. There is also a more recent translation by Anthony Briggs, which can be purchased or licensed in various formats and is available in some public libraries.  Any questions about the PEBC may be directed to Convenor Bob Matter,

Nov
29
Tue
America’s #1 Problem: LOW WAGES @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Nov 29 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

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.

You can sign up for this free event thru Eventbrite, or RSVP directly by email.

 

Mar
1
Wed
America’s #1 Problem: LOW WAGES @ Green Briar Park
Mar 1 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

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.

Mar
14
Tue
America’s #1 Problem: LOW WAGES @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Mar 14 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

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.

May
9
Tue
Illinois is not Broke @ Overflow Coffee Bar
May 9 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

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.

Sep
12
Tue
Illinois is not Broke @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Sep 12 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

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, and without burdening the earning power of the most needy.

This is an update of material originally presented in May of this year. While subsequent developments have transferred some of the economic distress from governments to citizens, there is no indication that the politicians or other interest groups involved admit any understanding of the fundamental economic principles described here.

 

Nov
12
Sun
Illinois is not Broke @ Sulzer Branch of Chicago Public Library
Nov 12 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Henry George School photo by Chuck Metalitz

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 fails to collect its legitimate earnings, instead placing barriers against productive work and making it unnecessarily difficult for working people to earn a living.

This is an update of material originally presented in May of this year. While subsequent developments have transferred some of the economic distress from governments to citizens, there is no indication that the politicians or other interest groups involved admit any understanding of the fundamental economic principles described here.  Without this understanding, even honest government couldn’t put Illinois on a path to prosperity and freedom.

This Henry George School presentation is sponsored by the Chicago Ethical Humanist Circle, is free and open to the public. The Library is three blocks from the Western Brown Line CTA station.

 

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.

Apr
11
Thu
Illinois Pension Solutions @ Signature Office
Apr 11 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm
Illinois Pension Solutions @ Signature Office

Michael Belsky, executive director Center for Municipal Finance at Harris School University of Chicago, will discuss ongoing research into the state and local pension crisis in Illinois.

Registration is required for this free event.