What role did real estate play in the crashing of the global economy? Bigger and different than you might think, says this new Australian documentary by Karl Fitzgerald and Gavin Emmanuel. Shot over 5 years, it focuses an economics lens on many of the big picture issues world politics are grappling to deal with. The 40 minute documentary looks at whether genuine freedom has been delivered by the democratic system.
We’ll show the film at 2 PM on Saturday, June 9, at 28 E Jackson #1004. There will be time for questions and discussion, and of course refreshments. The event is free, but our landlord insists on being paid so donations are welcome.
For information call 312 362 9302 or email bobj@hgchicago.org
Right on the streets of every American community, robbery takes place every day. How can local, state, and national governments claim they need to tax our labor, when there is so much real value that the community creates but fails to collect? On this walk through central Chicago, we’ll see some of this value, understand who takes it and what it costs us all. Along the way we’ll discuss what a free market is, and how it could make the city a better place.
HGS President Chuck Metalitz is your guide for this tour, which departs 1 PM on June 16 from 28 E. Jackson #1004. Hardcopy sourced notes will be provided. A donation of $10 (cash or check, please) is requested, but this is waived for anyone who was enrolled at the School during 2011 or 2012, as well as contributing members.
This tour was earlier scheduled for June 13, but due to a conflict is now set for Saturday, June 16, leaving 28 E Jackson #1004 at 1 PM.
Image credit: lobstar28 via flickr (cc)Urban sprawl threatens destruction of much valuable farm land. Bob Jene will look at data from one of the leading national organizations seeking 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 facilitate community supported agriculture which makes family farms more viable. The Georgist fiscal reform encourages more conservative and productive use of all land. Bob concludes that an alliance with AFT would benefit us both.
Free presentation at the Henry George School, 28 E Jackson #1004, 6 PM on Wednesday, June 6. Further information at 312/362-9302, or bobj@hgchicago.org.
What role did real estate play in the crashing of the global economy? Bigger and different than you might think, says this new Australian documentary by Karl Fitzgerald and Gavin Emmanuel. Shot over 5 years, it focuses an economics lens on many of the big picture issues world politics are grappling to deal with. The 40 minute documentary looks at whether genuine freedom has been delivered by the democratic system.
We’ll show the film at 6 PM on May 23, at 28 E Jackson #1004. There will be time for questions and discussion, and of course refreshments. The event is free, and donations are welcome.
This work was selected to coincide with the G8 meetings the subsequent weekend (which were to have been in Chicago but have been relocated). Bastiat was “indeed a lucid and superb writer, whose brilliant and witty essays and fables to this day are remarkable demolitions of protectionism and all forms of government subsidy and control,” according to economist Murray Rothbard. The work being discussed, Essays on Political Economy, is freely available in various written and audio formats.
At 6 PM on Wednesday, May 16. Optional RSVP to convenor Bob Matter by email or phone 312 362 9302. The event, at 28 E Jackson #1004, is free (donations welcome) and open to all.
Kenneth More stars as William Crichton, the highly knowledgeable and efficient butler in the London household of the Earl of Loam (Cecil Parker) and his family. Though Crichton is the true master of the household, he knows his place, honouring the tightly regulated social structure of late-nineteenth century England.
On a trip on the Earl’s steam yacht to the South Seas, the family and its servants are shipwrecked. The family become marooned on a desert island, and only Crichton proves to have the skills and resourcefulness to keep everyone alive. Within a few months, the social order has been reversed: Crichton, who becomes affectionately known as ‘Guv’, takes control of affairs, while his former employers become his willing and eager servants. [from Wikipedia]
Based on J M Barrie’s 1902 stage play of the same name. The U. S. release was titled “Paradise Lagoon.” Lewis Gilbert — UK– 1957 — 94 minutes
Presented at 2 PM on Saturday May 12, in our Curious Georgists go to the Movies series. free (donations welcome) with refreshments and discussion following the film.
This course investigates the systematic efforts of the economics profession to marginalize the ideas of Henry George — even at the cost of changing fundamental concepts of classical economics. Taught by Bob Jene, and based on important work by Mason Gaffney. This advanced course requires prior completion of Progress & Poverty. Starts tonight, April 19, at 6 PM. More information here.
We just learned today that HGS instructor John Kuchta passed away on April 7.
John originally came to us as a student in the Poverty, Liberation, and Land Reform course (under its original name, Liberation Theology and Land Reform), taught by the late Sam Venturella. He subsequently took all the traditional HGS courses, then became our main teacher of both that course and the newer Economics as if God Cared. He was the only one of our instructors who had formally studied theology, and the only one who made his living as a teacher.
John had taught physical sciences and math at Westwood College, and earlier taught math at De La Salle Institute. Before that, he had managed warehouses and worked in quality control, tutored privately, and worked commercially as a musician. Referring to predictions that, in the future, we will all have several different careers over our lifetimes, John sometimes introduced himself as a man of the future, who had already had several careers.
Services have been held. A published obituary is here, and a guest book here.
The United States has no formal established church, yet matters of religion keep popping in political campaigns. What has the Judeo-Christian-Muslim religious tradition to do with questions of political economy?
One perspective is to ask how “God” advises us to organize our economic life. According to John Kelly (who created this course) and John Kuchta (who teaches it, with assistance this time from David Harrell), the Old and New Testaments give clear directions about how communities and nations should treat landownership, debt, and taxes, to assure both justice and lasting prosperity. The course deals not only with religion and philosophy, but also with actual historical evidence. This term we offer Economics as if God Cared on Mondays at 6 PM, beginning April 16 and continuing each Monday thru May 7, at 28 E. Jackson #1004. As for all our classes, a $25 registration fee covers the entire cost of the course. You can pre-register here, or just show up. No prior study is required for this course.
For the first time in decades, we’re offering the course in Brookfield, at the British Home ( 8700 W. 31st Street). Wednesday afternoon classes start at 2:00, comprising six sessions, April 11 thru May 16. This is the modern version of the course, using the “abridged for modern readers” edition of the textbook (which is also available as an audiobook.) Instructor is Bob Jene, and the total cost is just $25 including all materials.
A downtown section of the modern version is also scheduled, beginning Tuesday at 6 PM. Taught by self-described land speculator George Menninger, the first session comprises “How I made $1,000,000 in Chicago Real Estate: I $tole it from you!”
Finally, the classic version — which uses Henry George’s original text and goes into somewhat more depth — will meet Wednesday afternoons, for five double-sessions (3.5 hours with a break). Instructor Chuck Metalitz does not insist that every student read every word of the text, but you’ll find the class more rewarding if you can take some time to do most of the suggested reading.
All courses require only a $25 registration fee, with the first session always free. Preregistration is requested but not required, and can be done here. Optional suggested reading prior to the first session is here for the modern version, and here(pdf) for the classic.
*Taken from a comment by one of our graduates, an accountant who said of the Progress & Poverty course: “It forces you to think deeper than you are accustomed to thinking.” Some other comments are here.
What role did real estate play in the crashing of the global economy? Bigger and different than you might think, says this new Australian documentary by Karl Fitzgerald and Gavin Emmanuel. Shot over 5 years, it focuses an economics lens on many of the big picture issues world politics are grappling to deal with. The 40 minute documentary looks at whether genuine freedom has been delivered by the democratic system.
