April 12, Thursday, 6 PM: High Cost of Government Revenue

photo credit: Ray Tsang ("saturnism") via flickr (cc)

Take a break from preparing “your” income tax returns to attend this Power Point® presentation looking at the real cost of collecting the income tax.  IRS overhead itself represents the direct cost to the government of generating this revenue. Beside that there is the burden put on the taxpayer in filling out his return, the cost of preparers, the cost of representation in case of audit and the dead weight on the economy.  The sum of all these costs represents a sizeable portion of the revenue collected.  There has to be a better way. Presenter Bob Jene will point one out.

Bob’s main source for this talk is James L Payne’s book Costly Returns.

This free presentation starts at 6:00 PM Tuesday, March 13, at 28 E. Jackson #1004.  Further information at 312 362 9302 or bobj@hgchicago.org.

Sat April 14, Movie: Lord of the Flies

image credit: Andy Martini via flickr (cc)

Lord of the Flies is a novel by Nobel Prize-winning author William Golding about a group of British boys stuck on a deserted island who try to govern themselves, with disastrous results. Its stances on the already-controversial subjects of human nature and individual welfare versus the common good earned it position 68 on the American Library Association’s list of the 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990–1999. (from Wikipedia)

Two feature films of this story have been made, in 1963 and 1990.  We’ll watch the original 1963 black and white version directed by Peter Brook which was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

At 28 E Jackson #1004. Movie at 2:00, followed by discussion and refreshments.  All are welcome and admission is free, with donations welcome.  For further information contact Bob Jene at 312 362 9302, or Bob Matter rjmatter@gmail.com.

 

April 10 Tuesday 6 PM: How I made $1,000,000 in Chicago real estate: I $tole it from you

Photo credit: Anders Sandberg via Flickr (cc)

Successful land speculation is really a matter of capturing for yourself the gains that belong to the community.  George Menninger is one of many who have done it.  Far beyond any need to earn a living, George now spends some of his time explaining how the bad public policy he exploited not only made him rich, but led to continued poverty, unemployment, and even the current economic meltdown. Come to ask him why he does this and whether he is a traitor to the 1%.

George’s talk, on Tuesday April 10 at 6 PM, is also the first session of our Progress & Poverty course (modern version), which will continue on Tuesdays thru May 8.  As with all our courses, the $25 registration fee need not be paid until the end of the first session, and George Menninger will provide a personal and accessible explanation of Henry George’s ideas. You can pre-register here, or just show up.  You are also welcome to attend just this session; there is no obligation or expectation that everyone attending will enroll.

March 31, Saturday, 1 PM: Invisible Robbery Tour

image credit: InfoMoto ("Will") via flickr (cc)

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 March 31 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.

Sat. March 10, 2012 – 2 p.m. “The American Ruling Class”

credit: Wikipedia

The American Ruling Class

Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper’s Magazine, wrote this “cleverly contrived non-fiction film” (New York Press) that follows two fictional Yale grads around as they ask some of America’s cultural, political, and economic elite (Walter Cronkite, James Baker III, Robert Altman, Pete Seeger, Lawrence Summers, Kurt Vonnegut, Bill Bradley, Howard Zinn) to define the American ruling class.

The film premiered at the 2005 Tribeca Film Festival, followed by a party at the New York Mercantile Exchange. John Kirby—USA—2005—88 mins. A discussion follows the film. Free and open to the public. Donations kindly accepted.

Feb 27, 2:30 PM: Progress & Poverty course

credit: Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (HikingArtist) via Flickr (cc)

For those wishing to learn the root cause of worsening poverty on an afternoon schedule, our final Winter term Progress & Poverty course starts this Monday, February 27.  This is the modern version of the course, meeting for five consecutive Mondays thru March 26.  Class starts at 2:30. As always, you’re welcome to attend the first session without charge; continuing for the complete course requires a total fee of only $25

If this schedule isn’t convenient for you, check back in a couple of weeks when we will have our Spring term schedule posted.

 

Feb. 22, 2012 – Political Economy Book Club continues with Wealth of Nations

Building on site where Adam Smith wrote Wealth of Nations
source: Wikimedia Commons

Our Political Economy Book Club continues its discussion of Book I of Adam Smith’s “The Wealth of Nations”.  This session covers the second half of Book I (chapters 10 & 11). “The Wealth of Nations” is available for free download at http://www.gutenberg.org/. Feel free to participate even if you haven’t yet read the book and are simply interested in economics. Bob Matter leads the discussion. Wednesday, Feb 22, 2012, 6 PM, at 28 E Jackson #1004. Free, donations welcome.

Feb 11 Movie: The Cartel

Henry George School photo

This documentary on much-needed education reforms is a clear-headed, gripping indictment.  Using New Jersey as a case study, director Bob Bowdon lays out why one of the country’s most expensive school districts has one of the highest dropout rates and lowest standardized test scores.  The problem is corruption, union bureaucracy, and reactionary politics.  “Where the film really comes alive is in its giving a human face to those affected by the state’s thuggish education system” (Slant Magazine).  Bob Bowden–  USA — 2009 — 90 minutes.

This free presentation in our Curious Georgists go to the Movies series starts 2 PM on Saturday, February 11, at 28 E Jackson #1004.  More info at 312 362 9302 or bobj@hgchicago.org.

Jan 23 and 28: Two more Progress & Poverty opportunities

photo credit: Daniel Chaeh via Flickr (cc)

If you have not taken, or would like to refresh your knowledge of, Progress & Poverty, you’ll have two opportunities to start this week.

At our Loop location, a Monday night class starts January 23 at 6 PM.  This is the modern version, and Bob Jene will be the instructor

In the South Suburbs, our Saturday afternoon class starts January 28 in Blue Island. This class meets for five Saturdays, but each is effectively a double-session, 1 to 4 PM.  More about this class is here.

Like all Henry George School courses, both of these are “almost free,” requiring only a $25 registration fee to help pay materials costs.  All needed texts are included. And you’re welcome to sit in on the first session before deciding whether to register.