Winter Term Schedule

!!Please note location and access details at the bottom of this post!!

Introducing Progress and Poverty

Tuesday, January 16, 5:30 – 7:30PM

In his 1879 masterpiece Progress & Poverty, Henry George proposed to end poverty by recognizing a clear and logical distinction between private property and community property. America took a different path, but Chuck Metalitz says George’s proposal is the best way to bring prosperity to the struggling people of America today.

After a brief outline of George’s early life and work, he’ll consider the remedies proposed in our time for poverty, and evaluate their potential to assure that everyone has the opportunity to get a comfortable living. Then he’ll present George’s remedy, which is even more valid in 2024 than it was in the gilded age, and note some of the obstacles to its implementation.

Of course there will be time for questions and discussion.

This single session is intended to provide an overview of what Progress & Poverty covers, and why it’s worthwhile for thinking people to investigate it today. At the conclusion of the session, you’ll be invited to sign up for the complete Progress & Poverty course, but there’s no obligation to do so.

Progress and Poverty

Tuesdays, January 16 thru March 26, 5:30 – 7:30PM

This course is based on Henry George’s book of the same name, supplemented by modern readings, presentations, and some videos. The first class is Introducing Progress & Poverty, then there are nine additional sessions thru March 26.  From this course:

• You will learn a method of reasoning that is useful in understanding all sorts of community problems.
• You will know the mechanism by which pover­ty tends to worsen as the economy progresses, and why programs aimed at alleviating poverty can have, at best, only limited success.
• You will see the inherent contradictions which cause “economic development” programs to fail.
• You will understand the fundamental cause of the ongoing financial crises.
• You will know why similar crises occur repeatedly, every decade or two.
• You will recognize why honest and efficient govern­ment, improved public education, and many other desirable reforms cannot by themselves bring pros­perity nor end poverty.
• You will have a better understanding of the economic system under which we live.
• You will know how Liberty and Justice are essential elements of any system which works for everybody.
• You will understand and have evaluated for yourself a method of public finance which might end poverty and prevent financial collapses.

Instructor: Adam H Kerman

Economic Science

Thursdays, January 18 thru March 14, 5:30-7:30 PM

The Science of Political Economy, which George intended to correct the shortcomings of college-level courses in the field, is the main text for this course. Prior completion of Progress & Poverty is required. You can choose to read George’s original text, or an excellent abridgement by Lindy Davies. There will also be some supplementary material.

 Topics addressed include:

• how civilization extends and increases the limited powers of the individual
• the nature of wealth
• theories of value
• diminishing returns
• the relation of space and time in production
• the nature of trade
• causes of confusion as to property
• voluntary and involuntary cooperation
• money and credit
• functions of land, labor, and capital.