Could land hoarding be a major source of the poverty which we face? Henry George observed that societys technological advances — thought to provide benefits for all — really made it seem as though an immense wedge were being forced, not underneath society, but through society. Those who are above the point of separation are elevated, but those who are below are crushed down. George claimed to have identified the fundamental force that was driving that wedge — and how the problem could be fixed. If he was right, its little wonder that his views were suppressed. After all, the most prestigious universities were endowed by the major recipients of the privileges that George sought to expose. The academic reaction to Henry Georges ideas confirmed Lord Macauleys famous observation that were great pecuniary interests at stake, acknowledgment of the law of gravitation even now would be met with opposition. ( understandecon/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/ue/682062653860/ ) It seems evident that the very same wedge is now in operation in the developing worlds BRIC leaders (Brazil, Russia, India and China). These four nations, in which 41.6% of the worlds people live, are sometimes referred to as a bloc, but they dont really have a great deal in common. Brazil and India are former colonial possessions that have embraced democracy (to a greater or lesser degree) and a measure of free-market capitalism. Russia and China are former communist states that have also embraced free markets to some considerable extent, but still retain large amounts of central economic control. Indias population density is 371 people per square kilometer; Russias is 9. Here is another excerpt from Henry Georges *Progress and Poverty* (1879) that is pertinent to our first lesson: There is distress where large standing armies are maintained, but there is also distress where the standing armies are nominal; there is distress where protective tariffs stupidly and wastefully hamper trade, but there is also distress where trade is nearly free; there is distress where autocratic government yet prevails, but there is also distress where political power is wholly in the hands of the people, in countries where paper is money, and in countries where gold and silver are the only currency. Evidently, beneath such things as these, we must infer a common cause. I submit that this common cause -- whatever it turns out to be -- is what brought you to this course. Its the gnawing question that kept you clicking on our links. And -- lucky for you -- its exactly what this course is about. I believe that this course will change the way you think and feel about society. It is that important, and thats why the first part of our three-part series is offered to you completely free of charge. Some of you have enrolled in the self-paced Understanding Economics course; others have asked for more information about our ideas and proposals. Theres no better time to find out: understandecon/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/r/ue/542588761327/ All best wishes! Lindy Davies Program Director, HGI --
Posted on: Mon, 03 Feb 2014 07:50:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015