Invisible Robbery Tour– Saturday

photo credit: Chuck Metalitz

It’s not just traditional Chicago/Illinois corruption that robs working people of the wealth they make. Even squeaky-clean governments customarily allow a privileged few to levy a toll on the rest of us. This can’t be prevented in a democratic society as long as most of us don’t understand what we’re being robbed of.

Originally designed as a field trip for Progress & Poverty students, the Invisible Robbery tour is a guided walk around Chicago’s loop. You’ll see the value that you, all of us, create by our very presence. Then there’s the additional value that we pay for thru our taxes. We’ll see where it goes, consider where it could go, and note the potential.  We’ll also say hello to Occupy Chicago.

The Saturday October 15 tour departs 28 E Jackson #1004 at 1 PM, returns about 3. Dress for the weather, and expect to walk about a mile and a half. Tour guide is HGS instructor Chuck Metalitz. This Invisible Robbery Tour is still free. Details here, or call 312 362 9302.

If you’re rich, you probably stole it from us

Who made this worth $1.75 million?

Progress & Poverty, the basic introduction you need to understand where  Occupy* can lead us, starts this Wednesday, October 12, 6 PM at 28 E. Jackson.  As always, the first session is free, more info is here. Because the instructor for this section is Chicago real estate speculator George Menninger, the first session will be his presentation  “How I Made $1 million in Chicago Real Estate: I Stole if from You.”

 

Robin Hood: The Movie

Photo credit: Janet McKnight via Flickr

To be precise, Ridley Scott’s 2010 version (not the topiary version shown here).  Other than Robinson Crusoe, whose film we watched in August, is there any fictional/historical character who shows up more often in discussions of political/economic issues than Robin Hood? Curious Georgists go to this movie this afternoon (Saturday) 2 PM free, details.

What is Liberty?

Photo credit: Bev Sykes

PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF

Do you know what these words mean? Do you know their economic significance? You will know, if you take John Kuchta’s Poverty, Liberation, and Land Reform course, which starts at 6 PM today (Friday).  It meets every Friday (except November 25).  You can pre-register here, or just stop by at class time.  Questions? Call 312 362 9302 or email info@hgchicago.org.

Classes start THIS week

Our basic introductory Progress & Poverty course starts Monday (classic version) or Thursday (modern version). Poverty, Liberation, & Land Reform starts Friday. Our advanced course Corruption of Economics/History of Capital (requires prior completion of Progress & Poverty) starts Tuesday.

There will also be a Wednesday Progress & Poverty class starting the following week, October 12, and another Thursday section in November.

All of the above classes start at 6 PM, and are held at our main location, 28 E. Jackson. For more information, or to pre-register, click the “courses” tab and its subtabs on the left. Or, if you have questions, email or phone 312/362-9302.

The American Monetary Act

Monday, September 26, 6 PM at 28 E Jackson #1004.  Price: FREE.

Even Henry George recognized that a just and prosperous economy requires a proper system of money.  The American Monetary Institute has proposed the American Monetary Act (pdf) to address this issue. Bob Jene will examine this proposed Constitutional Amendment, and compare it with Henry George’s ideas on money, as documented in a talk on the subject by AMI President Steve Zarlenga.

For those interested in further discussion on the subject, it is still possible to register for AMI’s Monetary Reform Conference, in Chicago, Sept 29-Oct 2.

High Cost of Government Revenue

Income Tax Dancing School
photo credit: Jaygoldman via Flickr (cc)

This Power Point® presentation looks at the 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 protio of the revenue collected.  There has to be a better way. Presenter Bob Jene will point one out.

This free presentation starts at 6:00 PM Tuesday, March 13, at 28 E. Jackson #1004.