Henry George School of Social Science, Chicago, Illinois – Page 11

Sept 1 Sunday 3PM Almost* Henry George’s Birthday Party

Our annual end-of-summer gathering to celebrate the year and look forward to another. Share ideas and thoughts picked up (or dropped off) at the CGO conference. Discuss plans for the fall term and beyond. Watch some Georgist videos. Enjoy whatever food our potluck has brought, along with suitable drinks in a relaxed atmosphere in heavily-taxed Evanston. We gather from about 3 PM and tend to leave by dark.

If you’d like to attend, contact Sue Walton no later than Friday (Aug 30) at 847 475 0391. Everyone is asked to bring some food and contribute $5 (Sue will advise on what is needed), new graduates excepted.

*(HG’s 174th birthday is Sept 2, 2013).

Aug 24 Saturday 2PM: Economic Cycle Tour of the south loop/lakeshore

Photo of cyclists along the near south lakefront by Marcin Wachary (cc) via flickr

This tour looks at the lakefront areas just south of the Chicago loop, including the Central Station, Museum Campus, and Prairie Avenue districts. We’ll see how the natural and manmade amenities affect what sites are worth, and how this is (or is not) reflected in assessments.

This area has undergone numerous changes over the decades, from residential to commercial, railroad, industrial, institutional, and back to residential, but always the lakefront and close access to downtown have been important. The land has long been valuable, and we’ll talk about the factors which produce value and who benefits from it.

There is no charge for the tour (altho donations will be gratefully accepted). We leave from 30 E Adams at 2 PM. Bring your own bike. Optional RSVP to 312 450 2906, or email tour leader Bob Jene

Aug 23 Friday 2PM: Invisible Robbery Tour

Originating as a field trip for “Progress & Poverty” students, our Invisible Robbery Tour is now open to all.

See how the community and its infrastructure produce value.
See who collects this value, and how it affects us all.

We’ll stroll about two kilometers, in about an hour and a half. You’ll get detailed, sourced, hardcopy notes, and answers to your questions about how downtown development really works.

The tour is free for HGS graduates and anyone who has paid an HGS registration fee within the past two years, as well as for current donors at the member level. Others are requested to donate $10, which may be done by cash, check or credit card. (Of course you can always donate to the Henry George School; donations of any amount can be done here.)

We’ll leave from the Henry George School location, 30 East Adams #1207. Call 312/450-2906 or email if you want any more information.

Saturday July 27 Visit us at the Free Speech Forum

Bughouse Square in the old days (source: Wikimedia)

Bob Matter and his crew of merry geoists will have a table at the Bughouse Square Free Speech Forum on Saturday, July 27. Stop by, get the latest info about the School, argue with him a bit (but not too much, ’cause he gets articulate under stress), listen to the speakers and maybe visit some of the other interesting groups who participate. Of course it’s entirely free, sponsored by the Newberry Library. Washington Square Park, Dearborn & Walton. 1 to 4:30 PM, Saturday, July 27. For more information, or if you want to help, call 312 450 2906 or email Bob Matter

Thurs, July 25 6 PM: No Farms, No Food

Since earliest civilizations, humans have recognized that food is a product of farmland (and, yes, pastureland, fisheries, etc) and have managed to cultivate enough land to feed themselves. Yet today we routinely convert farmland to urban use. American Farmland Trust (AFT) seek to ensure continued agricultural use of some land by buying development rights from farmers, and try to make farms more viable by facilitating community supported agriculture. The geoist fiscal reform provides an alternative way to encourage more conservative and productive use of all land. This presentation by HGS instructor Bob Jene suggests that an alliance between AFT and geoists might benefit both.

Thursday, July 25, 6 PM, at 30 E Adams #1207. Free and open to all. Have you questions, or would like to let us know you’re coming, call 312 450 2906 or email Bob Jene

July 9 Tues 6PM: The Other Law of Moses course begins

This is a four-session course, based on the book by John Kelly. Kelly approaches the problem as a believing Christian (but the idea is equally of interest to those of other or no religion): Does “God” (such as s/he may or may not be) care about economics? Kelly finds that his Bible contains a prescription for prosperity with freedom and natural equality.

Thru this course, you can evaluate the idea for yourself, and decide whether Christianity (or any of the related religions) has anything insightful to say about how should organize our economies.

This is the same course that was formerly titled “Economics as if God Cared;” we have retitled it in hopes of offending everyone equally. No outside reading is required for this course, everything being presented in the class by instructor Bob Jene. It’s open to everyone without prerequisite. The course meets Tuesdays, July 9 thru July 30, and you can register here or by phoning 312 450 2906. The only charge is a $25 registration fee.

Summer at the Henry George School

photo credit Quinn Dombrowski via flickr (cc)

We have finally got our summer class schedule posted. We’ll have three sections of the flagship Progress & Poverty course, as well as a course linking economic justice to the Christian bible. Summer will also include other events, mostly free, which will be posted in the coming days.

Of particular interest, for anyone paying her/his way thru college, is the opportunity to earn college credit for taking our three-course “Principles of Political Economy” series. You can start with the one-week intensive Progress & Poverty course August 19-23. Applied Economics and Economic Science can be taken in the fall and winter terms, or as intensives. More information is here.

Sat June 15: Economic Cycle Tour of the north loop/lakeshore

The "new east side" was a freight yard in the 1940's (Library of Congress) — The “new east side” was a freight yard in the 1940’s (Library of Congress)

Join HGS instructor Bob Jene for a leisurely bicycle tour of recent developments near the mouth of the Chicago River, including the “new east side” along the south bank, developments on the north bank, and Trump Tower. If you haven’t had occasion to look around these areas in the past few years, now is your chance. The tour is free for everyone, but you’ll need to provide your own bicycle and sign a release.

Departs 30 E Adams at 2 PM on Saturday, June 15. If you have questions, or just want to let Bob know you’ll be coming, call 312 450 2906 or email him

June 19, Wed, 6 PM, PEBC continues with Wealth of Nations

Purpleslog's Wordle of Wealth of Nations — Purpleslog’s Wordle of Wealth of Nations

Our Political Economy Book Club continues its discussion of Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. The June 19 session focuses on Book II, Chapters 4 and 5, with discussions of the nature and uses of capital, and interest.

The Wealth of Nations is available for free downloading at
http://archive.org/details/thewealthofnatio00smituoft. Free audio
recordings are available at http://librivox.org/the-wealth-of-nations-book-2-and-3/.

PEBC meets Wednesday, June 19, 6 PM at 30 E Adams #1207. Admission is absolutely free, although donations to help cover refreshments and expenses are appreciated. If you have questions, or to RSVP that you’ll be attending, call 312 450 2906 or email Bob Matter

Wed May 22 PEBC continues with Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations

Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations is a landmark work that marks the start of economics as a science. Smith was arguing against the mercantilism of his day pointing out that laborers and the products of their labor were the real wealth of the nation. We are returning to this great work to consider Book II, Of the Nature, Accumulation, and Employment of Stock. On May 22 we will discuss the introduction through chapter 3 and on June 19 we will finish with chapters 4 & 5.

The Wealth of Nations is available for free downloading at archive.org.
Free audio recordings are available at librivox.

The Political Economy Book Club meets at 6 PM, at 30 E Jackson #1207. Everyone is welcome and there is no cost, altho donations to help pay the rent are welcomed. RSVP to Bob Matter or call 312-450-2906.