The People of the Abyss (1903) is a book by Jack London (1876-1916) about life in the East End of London in 1902. He wrote this first-hand account by living in the East End for several months, sometimes staying in workhouses or sleeping on the streets. The conditions he experienced and wrote about were the same as those endured by an estimated 500,000 of the contemporary London poor. Decades later, this book inspired George Orwell to write Down and Out in Paris and London.
A bit late to be a contemporary of Henry George, Jack London lived mainly in northern California and was a passionate advocate of workers’ rights. Both London and George were members of Bohemian Grove.
(source: Wikipedia)
The People of the Abyss is available free on line as text from Gutenberg, and as an audiobook from LibriVox, as well as in hardcopy from various libraries and book dealers.
Political Economy Book Club is open to everyone wishing to participate in the discussion, without charge altho donations are appreciated to help pay for rent and snacks. Convenor Bob Matter appreciates an RSVP from those planning to attend.
In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville and Gustave de Beaumont were sent by the French government to study the American prison system. In his later letters Tocqueville indicates that he and Beaumont used their official business as a pretext to study American society instead. They arrived in New York City in May of that year and spent nine months traveling the United States, studying the prisons, and collecting information on American society, including its religious, political, and economic character.
Democracy in America was one of the products of this trip. It’s available in several translations, some free such as this one and this one, also free in audio format. On March 29, the Political Economy Book Club will discuss volume 1.
PEBC meetings are free and open to everyone who has read and wishes to talk about the book under discussion. Convenor Bob Matter appreciates an RSVP if possible.
A subsequent meeting will discuss volume 2
Once again this year, our colleagues from the Public Revenue Education Council will have a booth at the annual conference of the National Council of State Legislators. PREC travel to the host city each year, and in 2016 they’re at McCormick Place in Chicago.
PREC will want assistance from local people who have completed one or more courses at the Henry George School and understand the fundamentals of political economy, especially land value taxation and the “two-rate” or “split rate” tax. If you might like to help out, contact Chuck Metalitz for more details. Because this conference of public officials is closed to the public, this might be you only way to get into the exhibit hall, and requires pre-arrangement. Only a limited number of these volunteer positions is available.
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.
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.