Events

Sep
15
Mon
Will the Real Fiscal Stimulus Please Stand Up? @ Henry George School suite 1207
Sep 15 @ 6:00 pm

An evening with Bob Jene to compare the Georgist fiscal reform to the TARP bailout, “Fair Tax,” Flat Tax, Bush tax cuts and government money creation.  A gist of each proposed or attempted solution to the “great recession” will be given including QE I, QE II and QE III. Attendees will rank the proposed remedies on a scale of 1 to 10 based on 8 criteria.

Jan
26
Mon
Will the Real Fiscal Stimulus Please Stand Up? @ Henry George School suite 1207
Jan 26 @ 6:00 pm
image credit: FullyFunctnlPhil (cc) via flockr
image credit: FullyFunctnlPhil (cc) via flockr

An evening with Bob Jene to compare the Georgist fiscal reform to the TARP bailout, “Fair Tax,” Flat Tax, Bush tax cuts and government money creation.  A gist of each proposed or attempted solution to the “great recession” will be given including QE I, QE II and QE III. Attendees will rank the proposed remedies on a scale of 1 to 10 based on 8 criteria.

May
18
Mon
Will the Real Fiscal Stimulus Please Stand Up? @ Henry George School suite 1207
May 18 @ 6:00 pm
image credit: quantumamyrillis (cc) via flickr
image credit: quantumamyrillis (cc) via flickr

An evening with Bob Jene to compare the Georgist fiscal reform to the TARP bailout, “Fair Tax,” Flat Tax, Bush tax cuts and government money creation.  A gist of each proposed or attempted solution to the “great recession” will be given including QE I, QE II and QE III. Attendees will rank the proposed remedies on a scale of 1 to 10 based on 8 criteria.

Sep
13
Wed
Orwellian Economics @ Overflow Coffee Bar
Sep 13 @ 6:15 pm – 8:15 pm

The purpose of Newspeak was not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of IngSoc, but to make all other modes of thought impossible. It was intended that when Newspeak had been adopted once and for all and Oldspeak forgotten, a heretical thought – that is, a thought diverging from the principles of IngSoc – should be literally unthinkable, at least so far as thought is dependent on words.

— George Orwell

Dan Sullivan

Something like this has happened to the field of economics, says Dan Sullivan.  Terms which had clear meanings to Adam Smith, J S Mill, and other classical economists have got distorted and redefined– or obliterated–  to prevent serious discussion of economic issues. Going back to the roots of political economy, Dan suggests the real point of a proper science of economics would be to efficiently satisfy the desires of the people, both individually and collectively.

Dan will help us distinguish between “rights” and “privileges,” “investments” and “acquisitions”,  and several distinct concepts that all get called “wealth.” He’ll address the difference between “means of production” and “capital,” and differentiate “human capital” from modern slavery.

You can understand today’s economic issues such as minimum wages, tax policy, international trade, housing costs, and unemployment, but only if you have a clear idea of the fundamental terms.  These terms can be readily comprehended by ordinary people and do not lead to any particular “left” or “right” public policy, but they facilitate informed communication.

There will of course be time for questions and discussion.

Based in Pittsburgh, Dan Sullivan is a popular speaker on economic issues, and Director of Saving Communities

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.

Jun
25
Tue
Political Economy Book Club reads Jack London’s The Iron Heel @ Bridgeport Coffeehouse (Loop location)
Jun 25 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Bob Matter’s Political Economy Book Club is reading Jack London’s dystopian novel The Iron Heel On June 25 we’ll discuss chapters 1-13, and on July 23 chapters 14-25.  This 1908 text is available free from Project Gutenberg, in hardcopy from some public libraries, or as an audiobook.  You can buy used hardcopies for < $10 from several vendors.

We’ll meet at the East Loop location of Bridgeport Coffeehouse, 73 E Jackson Blvd.

Jul
23
Tue
Political Economy Book Club finishes Jack London’s “The Iron Heel” @ Bridgeport Coffee (Loop location)
Jul 23 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Bob Matter’s Political Economy Book Club concludes its discussion of Jack London’s dystopian novel The Iron Heel On July 23 we treat chapters 14-25.

We’ll meet at the east loop location of Bridgeport Coffee, 73 E Jackson.