As farmland yields to “higher-value” uses, how (and how well and how inexpensively) will we eat? Bob Jene reviews data from a leading agricultural preservation organization, the American Farmland Trust (AFT). Among other things they buy development rights from landowners to insure continued farming use, and attempt to facilitate community supported agriculture which makes family farms more viable. A Georgist fiscal reform encourages more conservative and productive use of all land and reduces sprawl, thus preventing encroachment on farmland. An alliance with AFT would benefit us both.
Do we need to suffer like this (and/or pay someone else) in order to fund government? In this presentation, HGS instructor Bob Jene looks at what it costs to collect income taxes. The direct cost to the government of operating the Internal Revenue Service is only a small part, as the burden put on the taxpayer, and the diversion of effort from productive uses, should also be considered.
We’ll gather in a rustic south Evanston back yard [you get the exact address when you RSVP] to commemorate Henry George’s 177th birthday (actually he was born September 2, but that’s inconvenient for most working folks). This year, we’re also celebrating, we hope, the School’s new location (yet to be determined at this writing).
Thanks to the generosity of HGS supporters past and present, everyone who’s completed any HGS course, ever, is welcome to attend without charge. Bring a significant other, or a friend who might find HGS of interest, also no charge. And of course no charge for your minor dependents. We hope to see people who might have taken a course years ago and almost lost touch with us. Come by, meet some of the new students and graduates, as well as the volunteer staff.
There will be food, drink, a lot of conversation and maybe some productive discussion about how to help our community understand how the economy works, the fundamental principles which can be harnessed to bring prosperity and freedom.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us know by Friday September 2 whether you’ll be coming. It would be great, but not required, if you can bring something to share. Monetary donations are also extremely welcome, and can be made here, or by check to the School, or at the event.
Urban sprawl is threatening to destroy much valuable farmland. We will look at data from one of the leading national organizations trying to mitigate this damage, The American Farmland Trust (AFT). Among other things they buy development rights from farmers to insure the land’s continued use in agriculture and attempt to facilitate community supported agriculture which makes family farms more viable. The Georgist fiscal reform reduces sprawl alleviating pressure on farmland.
(image credit: Kristian Bjornard ; Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0); https://flic.kr/p/8RYWFy)
Metropolitan Planning Council’s Alden Loury will discuss his research into the costs that racial and ethnic segregation impose on all of us here, and might be persuaded to hint at the recommendations to come from phase 2 of the study. We have a post with a bit more information.
We’ll gather in a rundown south Evanston back yard [you get the exact address when you RSVP; be assured it is half a mile to publc transportation.] to commemorate Henry George’s 178th birthday (actually he was born September 2, but by tradition we use Labor Day). This year, we’re also celebrating our transition to a virtual school using multiple locations, no longer paying monthly rent to a landlord.
Thanks to the generosity of HGS supporters past and present, everyone who’s completed any HGS course, ever, is welcome to attend without charge. Bring a significant other, or a friend who might find HGS of interest, also no charge. And of course no charge for your minor dependents. We hope to see people who might have taken a course years ago and almost lost touch with us. Come by, meet some of the new students and graduates, as well as the volunteer staff.
There will be food, drink, a lot of conversation and maybe some productive discussion about how to help our community understand how the economy works, the fundamental principles which can be harnessed to bring prosperity and freedom.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let us know by Friday September 1 whether you’ll be coming. It would be great, but not required, if you can bring something to share. Monetary donations are also extremely welcome, and can be made here, or by check to the School, or at the event.
“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
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
Yes, it is possible to end poverty in America — or any independent nation — by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. Not just the poor, but everyone would have the opportunity to earn a decent living and enjoy better quality of life. Henry George, a prominent American philosopher and economist of the late 19th century, was the most prominent advocate of this reform. His book on the subject, Progress & Poverty, was probably the best-selling nonfiction work of his time, sparked a movement which brought prosperity to several American communities and foreign countries.
Introducing Progress & Poverty is a program by the Henry George School of Chicago, outlining the principles George advocated, how and why they work, and their potential for solving today’s problems in this city and elsewhere. This program will next be presented on Tuesday, October 10, 6PM to 8PM in the Chicago loop. Attendance is without charge or obligation. An extended course is also available for those interested.
We regret that due to management practices at the building, we must require pre-registration by email or phone (312 450-2906). If you are interested in the topic but this date and location don’t fit your schedule, please sign up for our announcement list. Also note that the program will be repeated in Edgewater on Sunday afternoon, October 29.
Yes, it is possible to end poverty in America — or any independent nation — by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. Not just the poor, but everyone would have the opportunity to earn a decent living and enjoy better quality of life. Henry George, a prominent American philosopher and economist of the late 19th century, was the most prominent advocate of this reform. His book on the subject, Progress & Poverty, was probably the best-selling nonfiction work of his time, sparked a movement which brought prosperity to several American communities and foreign countries.
Introducing Progress & Poverty is a program by the Henry George School of Chicago, outlining the principles George advocated, how and why they work, and their potential for solving today’s problems in this city and elsewhere. We’ll present this program on Sunday afternoon, October 29, 3PM to 5PM in the Edgewater neighborhood on Chicago’s north side. Attendance is without charge or obligation. An extended course is also available for those interested.
Pre-registration by email is encouraged, but not required if space is available. If you are interested in the topic but this date and location don’t fit your schedule, please sign up for our announcement list. Also note that the same program will be presented October 10 at a loop location.
Yes, it is possible to end poverty in America — or any independent nation — by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. Not just the poor, but everyone would have the opportunity to earn a decent living and enjoy better quality of life. Henry George, a prominent American philosopher and economist of the late 19th century, was the most prominent advocate of this reform. His book on the subject, Progress & Poverty, was probably the best-selling nonfiction work of his time, sparked a movement which brought prosperity to several American communities and foreign countries.
Introducing Progress & Poverty is a program by the Henry George School of Chicago, outlining the principles George advocated, how and why they work, and their potential for solving today’s problems in this city and elsewhere. We’ll present this program on Thursday afternoon, January 4, at 1PM at 300 Dodge in Evanston (CTA routes 93 and 97 stop nearby). Attendance is without charge or obligation. An extended course is also available for those interested, with sessions starting January 16 at the Evanston Public Library and January 18 in the loop.
Pre-registration by email or thru Eventbrite is encouraged, but not required if space is available. If you are interested in the topic but this date and location don’t fit your schedule, please sign up for our announcement list. Also note that a slightly expanded version of the same program will be presented January 11 at a loop location.