Happy Thankindians. May the holiday have been bountiful beyond all
expectations and waistlines. Welcome aboard to new subscriber Harry
Pollard of the Henry George School of Los Angeles. If any reader
knows of anyone who should also be a reader, please put them in
touch. Meanwhile, find out what conservative columnist David Brooks
has to say about bailouts and the Philadelphia media about
solutions. It all awaits below.
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CONTENTS:
1. Good Press: Philly weekly, YouTube, Freeman
2. News: While elephants and conservative David Brooks
3. Numbers: Why do most of the media call good economic news bad?
4. Movement Progress: Buenos Aires U, IHG Nicaragua,
Aussie sharing, Cooperative Individualism
5. Letters: Wetzel on courses, Widerquist on coming geoist speakers
6. Corrections: Philly radio station
7. Likable links: Fred Harrison's YouTube; UN course
8. What You Can Do: Pass money; Share knowledge with Aussies;
Share vision
9. At the Margin: Quips and Quotes
10. Publication affairs: Contributors, About the Georgist News
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1a. Good Press: Philly press coverage
by Joshua Vincent, Executive Director, Henry George Foundation
USA/Center for the Study of Economics
Round one:
Tax and Mend It may sound boring, but the LVT could help fix our
economy.
By Kellie C. Murphy
www.urbantools.org
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/articles/17984/news
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1b. Good Press: Michael Hudson on YouTube
by Bruno Moser, November 3, 2008
Inside USA - The financial crisis - 31 Oct 08 - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N-wElSLOe8
Good time to post Georgist comments.
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1c. Good Press: Shockingly good article about Nock in The Freeman
by Harold Kyriazi, November 26, 2008
This month's The Freeman had a story about Hong Kong on its cover,
which I wanted to read to see if they mentioned its use of LVT to
fund government. It didn't, but the last article in the issue had a
long article by Joseph Stromberg (a freelance historian, it seems)
about Albert Jay Nock, focusing almost entirely on his view of land
monopoly as the state's primary tool for exploitation. A truly great
article, given that The Freeman has never, to my knowledge, before
published anything on the land question, let alone a well-reasoned
position.
What caught my eye about it was a photo of Henry George on its last
page -- it also includes photos of Nock and Jefferson, whom he
quotes several times about the land question (including our
favorite, about the French aristocracy having stretched the rule of
property so far as to violate natural right). I encourage others to
whip up an LTE. If nothing else, I want to commend their editor for
publishing Stromberg's piece. Interestingly, there are tie-ins with
the Hong Kong piece as well as a short column by John Stossel on the
benefits of speculation, that immediately follows the Nock article.
Here's a link to the full article:
http://www.fee.org/publications/the-freeman/article.asp?aid=8368
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2. News: While elephants and conservative David Brooks
If reading about fundamental social progress helps you feel hopeful,
try visiting the Progress Report daily, http://www.progress.org/.
Two sample stories are listed here:
Sr Editor Fred Foldvary notes governments should meet real needs,
not build white elephants that never worked before.
"Public Works -- the Bridge to Economic Nowhere"
Conservative David Brooks of the New York Times and TV talk shows
suggests spending our tax dollars on the workers.
"BROOKS -- CEOs more dangerous than socialists"
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3. Numbers: Why do most of the media call good economic news bad?
You can also find all the current indicators in one place, and learn
of mainstream economists who acknowledge the role of land, at the
Progress Report, http://www.progress.org/.
For example:
You're forgiven if you're worried, given most economic stories.
But not all indicators are scary. Why paint them black?
Why do most of the media call good economic news bad?
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4a. Movement Progress: Presentation of book at U of Buenos Aires
by Fernando Scornik Gerstein, madrid at scornik-gerstein.com,
November 3, 2008
Two books were presented at the Law School of the University of
Buenos Aires. The books were: En Búsqueda del Tesoro Pérdido (On
the Search of the Loosen Lost Treasure") of by Dr. Héctor Sandler
and El Poll Tax y la Caída de Margaret Thatcher (Estudio de las
bases históricas, filosóficas y jurídicas del régimen del suelo y
sus implicaciones políticas y económicas) ("The Poll Tax and the
Fall of Margaret Thatcher"- Study of the historical, philosophical
and juridical bases of the land Systems and its political and
economical economic implications) of by Dr. Fernando Scornik
Gerstein.
The books were presented by the former Minister of Agriculture of
Argentina, Agrarian Engineer Lucio Reca, the former Director of the
Argentinean Inland Revenue, Dr. Raúl Cuello and the Professor
Eduardo Conesa.
The speakers underlined, before an audience of 120 persons, the
importance of the 2 books, one analyzing the land problems from the
Argentinean point of view (Dr. Sandler) and the other one from the
British and more general point of view (Dr. Scornik Gerstein).
Both books suggest that the only solution for the actual economics
problems is a change of the taxation system by introducing a tax on
land values and making of it the main bases basis for the finances
of the nation
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4b. Movement Progress: IHG Nicaragua Update
by Paul A. Martin, Director, Instituto Henry George, Managua,
Nicaragua, director at ceihg.org, November 21, 2008
The Sandinistas think nobody sees or cares that they have totally
rigged and stolen the municipal elections. They seem almost offended
that the opposition party, which represents at least 60% of the
population, insists on counting ballots and calculating election
results under public observation. So, the Sandi's have had
stormtrooper gangs intimidating public marches by the opposition and
using every kind of argument and calumny to justify why they the
rest of the country should just shut up and let them save the world
in an authoritarian way.
At times, it looks like the IHG's prediction of Nicaragua's economic
collapse in the first three months of 2009 is right on schedule. I'm
taking it seriously enough that I am making a priority of getting
all my children their official US citizenship papers and passports,
just in case. But then the insecurity passes and I ride my bike over
to the building site and everything seems calm and normal.
Unfortunately, my Georgist mind is telling me that everything George
indicates in the last book of P&M will always come to pass, in real
and horrific ways, over and over again, while the main cause of
injustice remains in force.
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4c. Movement Progress: November Aussie newsletter
by Karl Fitzgerald, news at earthsharing.org.au, November 27, 2008
The latest issue of EarthSharing is available. Contact Karl above.
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4d. Movement Progress: School of Cooperative Individualism updates
by Ed Dodson, ejdodson at comcast.net, November 26, 2008
The newsletter is available, in a new HTML format is available
(write me). Comments are appreciated.
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5a. Letters: Courses sought on understanding geonomics
By Dave Wetzel, November 1, 2008
In addition to the online HG courses offered by the Henry George
Institute, are courses that Alanna also runs:
http://www.course.earthrights.net/
I think it is well worth mentioning.
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5b. Letters: Courses sought in understanding geonomics
By Karl Widerquist, karl at widerquist.com, November 1, 2008
Thanks for the mention in the Georgist news. I assume you noticed I
quoted you. That the editorial of mine that you cited wasn't the
first time I've suggested land taxes as a source for a Basic Income
Grant.
We also have several more Georgists confirmed for the BIG track
within the 2009 annual Eastern Economic annual conference: Nicolaus
Tideman, Pat Aller, and John Tepper Marlin. There might be other
Georgists who I don't know are Georgists. Who else is coming?
Contact me for more info or visit US BIG.
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6. Corrections: Radio station
by Dan Sullivan, November 1, 2008
From last month, the link to hear Ed Dodson on radio WHYY, this link
is incorrect: http://www.whyy.org/cgi-bin/newwebRTlookup.cgi?
[Ed. Note: Caspar Davis tried the link and did a search at the site
- there is no match for Dodson]
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7a. Likable link: Fred Harrison's latest film
By Fred Harrison, fred.harrison at talktalk.net, November 24, 2008
We owe a debt of gratitude to Prof. Gaffney for making possible the
thesis in #2 of the Renegade Economist series of documentaries:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ku2yxP9ceRI
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7b. Likable link: New UN course
By Alanna Hartzok, November 26, 2008
Our new Earth Rights Institute course is now professionally designed
- Land Rights and Land Value Capture at
http://www.course.earthrights.net/ If you could take a look through
that would be great.
The latest (November) newsletter of the Global Land Tool Network
(GLTN) is available, to give an overview of GLTN and to inform you
about upcoming events and activities. Contact editor Danny Antonio,
a land surveyor by profession with who wrote a Master Thesis
(entitled "Intermediate Land Tenure Instruments: Concepts and
Realities") from at the Technical University of Munich, Germany,
who. He can be reached at danilo.antonio at unhabitat.org.
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8a. What You Can Do: Pay up!
By Sue Walton, sns at swwalton.com, November 15, 2008
Just a reminder that Council of Georgist Organizations annual dues
are now due and owing. Organizational membership is just $50 per
year or U for three years. Individual Dues are per year or 5 for
three years. For more information, please visit our website at:
www.cgocouncil.org
There's also info about our 2009 conference in Cleveland, the old
hotbed of activism under Mayor Tom Johnson, and now Dennis Kucinich.
We'll tie into both in different ways.
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8b. What You Can Do: Monetary seminars and Kucinich's comments
by Stephen Zarlenga, AMI, November 11, 2008
You're invited to attend 3 free monetary seminars at AMI Chapters in
Massachusetts and New York City.
N.Y. City: Monday December 1st, 6 to 8 PM at the Henry George School
at 121 E. 30th St. Conversation from 5:00 PM; talk starts at 6PM.
(Please call 224-805-2200 to confirm time, and so we can arrange
refreshments).
Shelburne Falls, (North Western) Mass: Sunday, December 6th, at
the Arms Library, Main and Bridge Street, 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
Come and join us. Light refreshments will be served.
Sherborn, Mass. (Boston Suburb): Saturday, December 7th,
2:00 - 4:00 PM at The Peace Abby, Two North Main Street.
Here is the link to how, on the evening of the election, Congressman
Dennis Kucinich concluded his victory speech on the evening of the
election. He tells how he talked about Stephen Zarlenga and how he
(Congressman Kucinich) is now approaching monetary reform. The
monetary issue has not been raised in Congress since Wright Patman
was chairman of the House Banking committee decades ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Xez11JfVM
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8c. What You Can Do: Check out new book
by Phil Anderson, November 11, 2008
If this is the first real estate cycle you have lived through, now
you have now seen first hand how land price turns bring profound
changes to the economy, both on the upside, and (now) the downside.
This is the cycle I document in the historical chapters of my book,
"The Secret Life of Real Estate": the move out of recession, the
boom, the plateau at the top, then the turn. It is easy to take
advantage of the cycle all the time, but it does allow you to see
the extremes before they happen.
While the underlying economic structure is always the same, the
repeat can never be exact; the cycle does not repeat exactly. The
repetition can only be within the context of the times. In this
particular 18-year cycle, we have for the first time, had fully
convertible and floating exchange rates. This is new, so here we
must make allowances. Nevertheless, banks are still creating credit
backed by the rental value of land as if enclosed. If you don't have
the book yet...
In Australia: http://www.johnreedbooks.com.au (and use the search
facility, by title, if it doesn't show)
In the UK, it is available here:
http://www.shepheard-walwyn.co.uk/newreleases.asp
(Click on the cover to read more.)
In the US:
www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Real-Estate/...
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8d. What You Can Do: Advise Aussie party
by David Spain, November 18, 2008
The new (Labor) federal government is proposing a review of its tax
system system (which is quite different to the State systems).
Public submissions have been sought and are published online at
http://www.taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/submission.aspx?round=1
There are several Georgist submissions.
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8e. What You Can Do: Time is Ripe for Sustainability Vision
by Mike Nickerson & Donna Dillman, Sustainability Project / 7th
Generation Initiative, sustain5(at)web.ca, November 27, 2008
People are interested in how we can get out of the double bind of
economic instability and environmental stress. "A Silver Lining to
the Economic Downturn" explains how the recent financial bubbles
tried to cover up the fact that real economic activity cannot
continue to grow, ever faster, on our finite planet. "Transforming
Toward Sustainability" explains where economic maturity might be
found. Both are posted at: www.SustainWellBeing.net/memes.html
Many things that individuals can do are posted here:
http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/todo_open.html
Each individual who understands the choice between perpetual
economic expansion and sustainability moves us in a better
direction. A full explanation is available at "Seeds for Change":
http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/seeds.html
Thirty-five years spent studying and writing about cultural
evolution as it relates to achieving sustainability have culminated
in my book, "Life, Money & Illusion: Living on Earth as if we want
to stay." We are about to go into a third printing of the book and
are offering an end of year special. The Table of Contents, reviews
and comments from individuals are posted at:
http://www.SustainWellBeing.net/book_open.html
If you would like some cards, "Living on Earth as if we want to
stay", we will send them free of charge.
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9. At the Margin: Quips and Quotes
Politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money even
to be defeated. -- Will Rogers
Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they already
know there is not enough money? -- anon.
"In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned
find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no
longer exists." -- Eric Hoffer
A man can't ride on your back unless it's bent.
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
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10. Publication affairs: Contributing to this issue
Along with those acknowledged above with each blurb,
Editor: Jeffery J. Smith
Assistant Editor: Caspar Davis
Archivist: Stewart Goldwater
Owner: Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
Founder: Adam Monroe
Send your news and other interesting material to the Georgist News
at jjs at geonomics.org or gn at progress.org. The deadline for the
next issue is December 25.
The Georgist News, a project of Robert Schalkenbach Foundation, is
an email newsletter brought to you free of charge. Its purpose is to
keep you updated on the latest news, citations, events, and
initiatives of relevance to people who, like Henry George, seek a
world free from special privilege and the causes of poverty.
Do you know someone who'd enjoy reading the GN? Please forward them
an issue and ask them to subscribe, or send us their eddress. As
always, it's free. Thanks.
The Georgist News is also available on line at
http://www.Georgist.com/
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The Georgist News, Volume Eleven, Number Six, December 1, 2008