America in the 1870s faced increasing poverty, rising unemployment, rule by an elite and their corporations– many of the same problems we’re experiencing today. Henry George described the cause of these problems and proposed a remedy which is even more applicable today than it was in his time. His book Progress & Poverty, perhaps the best-selling nonfiction book of the 19th century, presented his analysis and solution.
This “modern” version of the course uses Bob Drake’s “abridgement for modern readers” of Henry George’s original text. You’ll gain a new understanding of how the economy works, which public policies promote liberty and prosperity, and which don’t.
Class meets every Thursday, beginning 6PM on February 11, ending March 17. Even if you don’t sign up for the course, you’ll find this free introductory session insightful. More information about the course is here and here.
In commemoration of “tax day,” the hypothetical due date for Federal and State personal income tax returns, we’ll discuss a sensible proposal by a man who understood the danger of an income tax: Henry George. In this free introductory session, we’ll review the problems George saw in his time, and discuss how they persist today. We’ll outline what he proposed to do about them, how his recommendations apply today, and provide an overview of the Progress & Poverty course.
The course continues on Friday afternoons thru May 20. Should you choose to enroll, there will be a $25 registration fee.
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.