**************************
* !!! VERY IMPORTANT !!! *
**************************
***ALL "GEORGISTS" are directed to take VERY SPECIAL CARE to CLOSELY EXAMINE the first item in Section II, "WORD." It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that if you do not agree with my letter to the editors of the Wall Street Journal, that you SEND ME EMAIL (AND courtesy copies to WSJ) to that effect.
Not that I expect anything but support, but, I had to make sure WSJ and the public are aware that my complaints about their article are shared by ALL "Georgists." I encourage you ALL to write the Wall Street Journal to this effect (and, please, send a courtesy copy to the Georgist News, gnewsdesk@aol.com>).
I claim their article misrepresents Georgists, the Georgist Movement and Georgism. I don't claim this was intentional, but I do claim that several assertions made in the article, at least one of which is CRUCIAL, IN FACT, TO THE LINCOLN SUIT, are UTTERLY FALSE.
Especially, I claim that ALL Georgists, not "hard-line" Georgists (which I claim do not exist) are opposed to taxation of the quality of human life. I claim that nobody calls themselves a "Georgist" over a desire for "tax simplification," but for justice! And, I claim that nobody who goes around calling themselves a "Georgist" wants to tax labor. Yes, believe it or not, such assertions were presented as factual by the WSJ!
I claim WSJ owes an apology and a correction to their readers for the frighteningly Orwellian implications which attach like bees on honey to their article about the suit against Lincoln Foundation, Friday, May 28, 1999.
Georgists, kindly correct me if I'm wrong.
And, kindly forgive me for assuming to speak for ALL Georgists, especially since some of you are even eminent economists, but, as I know ALL "Georgists" will see upon reading the WSJ's 5/28 piece, this one was a no-brainer ...
Sincerely,
Adam Jon Monroe, Jr.
Editor, The Georgist News
Georgist@aol.com 212-613-5766
________________________________________________
Table of Contents
==========================================
I. ACTION
GEORGISTS REPRESENT, MAINTAIN IN NEW JERSEY;
***Strange Last Minute Alliances of Organization "Officials"
AFL-CIO Leadership Protecting Landed Interests!
NJ Sierra Club "Does Not Support" Arnone Bill!
Georgist NJ Mission Suddenly In Jeopardy!
Call Is Out; Georgists Must Mobilize to Win!
Georgist, John Fisher, Running for Canadian Parliament
New US Supreme Court Ruling on Economic Rights
Now, Libertarians Campaign for Moment of Silence?
==========================================
II. WORD
NEWSWATCH: Mainstream 'Catch of the Day'
WALL STREET JOURNAL MISREPRESENTS GEORGISM;
Scandalous 5/28 Article Wrongly Discounts Lincoln Case!!!
+
TIME Magazine - American Masters of Newspeak?
==========================================
WATCHWATCH: Exposing the Fake Alternative News
Geo-Friendly Mining Company Becomes About.com
GEOWATCH: Georgist Media Update
Special Memorial Day Article by John McConnell
Georgist Conference Updates & Reminders
Georgist Cyber-Envoy Team's First Mission: Dual Front!!
1 - Wall Street Journal Letters Demanding Corrections
2 - NJ Residents, Labor & Green Advocates, ACR-145
Online Georgist Reference Library In the Works
Georgist History Book Installment #1?
RSF Project Review Next Week in New York City
Land Reform Scotland is Coming to the Internet!
III. NETWORK TOOLS & OPPORTUNITIES
Request for Investigative Reporters and Editors Conference
Grants "for Sprawl" Available from US Government
IV. FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
Condolences on the Death of Connie Weinstein
Comments
A Couple More Requests from the Georgist News
___________________________________________
I. ACTION
Trenton, NJ (GNS) - Fast action by Josh Vincent and those responding to his eleventh hour call for help were the antidote to a nearly fatal ambush of the Georgist mission to New Jersey. Among others, Bill Batt, Ted Gwartney, Drew Harris and Nic Tideman rallied in earnest to respond before the State Assembly hearing on ACR-145 at the early morning meeting last Monday.
About 36 hours previous, Vincent had received a devastating late night fax from the office of Assembly Representative Michael Arnone, sponsor of the bill. The text: a letter of opposition to ACR-145 endorsed by a group of NJ power-brokers including a representative of the AFL-CIO.
With a total of 8 Georgists showing up to the hearing, Vincent's team barely exceeded the number of opposition members whose "rote responses," Vincent said, "helped us immeasurably."
"The next step is a June 10th vote. Until that time, we need to get environmental groups on board, as well as the organized labor movement. The AFL-CIO is officially against LVT, ..." Vincent says they "don't know what they're supporting."
On the other hand, what's bothering AFL-CIO Leaders about shifting taxes from homes and buildings to land value could be the same thing bothering the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club.
NJSC Legislative Chair Martin Sayne has written the Georgist News to inform us they are not supporting ACR-145 "in its present form." While Sayne's message was not specific as to the bill's shortcomings, Vincent says the impasse regards protection of open space in urban areas where community gardens and so forth could be in danger of development. Editor, Adam Monroe has replayed to Mr. Sayne's note and will join those attempting to bring Sierra Club's New Jersey on board in time to save Arnone's land tax bill, #ACR-145.
If Georgists are to succeed despite the ability of opponents to get official endorsement from the very groups from whom Georgists expect help, more than the mere systematic introduction of legislation may be necessary. It might be that personal outreach by many Georgists to a great number of New Jerseyans is the only way to reverse the frightening new trend developing against the NJ mission.
Georgists are being urged to make all the connections they can with New Jersey residents, especially environmental and labor activists. We're to explain the importance of Arnone's bill for the decentralization of land ownership and the effects that would have on New Jersey's economy and ecosystem.
It could be that some of New Jersey's labor and environmental leaders don't yet realize the degree of public interest in the "sprawl" issue. If so, they may learn something from an article appearing in yesterday's Washington Post about elections in the nearby state of Virginia which are turning increasingly upon the sprawl candidate Vs anti-sprawl candidate perspective: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-05/27/287l-052799-idx.html
Rep. Arnone's proposed Constitutional Amendment: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/9899/Bills/acr/145_r1.htm
Contact information:
Members of the New Jersey State Assembly:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/html98/members.htm
Does the current AFL-CIO "official" position on ACR-145 indicate Georgist overconfidence in support from labor advocates? US Georgists may have been overlooking the means by which genuine labor advocates can find "common ground" with natural allies, environmentalists, against the real foe, land ransom.
New Jersey Labor Link Site: http://www.dol.gov/dol/asp/public/states/nj.htm
AFL-CIO Links Page: http://www.aflcio.org/unionand.htm
Important NJ neighbor, the New York AFL-CIO, has such a big list of contact
information, some of these folks are bound to understand the need to mobilize
New Jersey's labor advocates in support of #ACR-145:
http://www.nysaflcio.org/officers.htm
[and] http://www.nysaflcio.org/labor_links.htm
New Jersey Internet Business Directory: http://www.workingfornewjersey.com
New Jersey Chapter of the Green Party: http://www.gpnj.org
New Jersey Chapter of the Reform Party: http://newjersey.reformparty.org (Georgist, Ed Dodson, is a member of the NJRP.)
A lot of New Jersey contact information is available through links at the web site of the Bergen Record Online: http://www.bergen.com
Asbury Park Press' front page reminds readers of their town's "glory days,"
but complains, "Now the boardwalk is deserted, the Casino crumbling. Cookman
Avenue is quiet. Wesley Lake, polluted." Then, they ask, "Have the answer?"
and suggest that visitors "Please share your thoughts on our message board":
http://msgboards.injersey.com/MessageBoards/u0/APP/Asbury
APP also invites, "E-mail our project team": civic@app.com
And, "get involved with an Asbury Park community group": http://www.app.com/civic/714asb3.htm
Josh Vincent is the Georgist "point-man" in New Jersey.
Josh Vincent, Director hgeorge@smart.net
Center for the Study of Economics/ Henry George Foundation of America
2000 Century Plaza #238
Columbia, MD 21044
410-740-1177
http://www.smart.net/~hgeorge
Adam Monroe: Georgist@aol.com 212-613-5766 (vm)
-------------------------
Rodney, ON (GNS) - Canadian Georgist John Fisher is running for Parliament
with the Green Party of Ontario. The vote is to be this Thursday, June 3.
Fisher is a retired teacher and has held several other local offices.
Fisher's understanding and advocacy of Georgist reform has been a driving principle in his career and his campaign is centered on the tax shift principle. His promotional flyer is even, in itself, a persuasive document for the logic of taxing for the use of resource instead of productivity.
Fisher describes the "big issues" in his area as "taxes, environment, education and health care." He also reports promisingly that "things are going well."
Indeed, the Green Parties of Canada, Scotland and other places seem to be gaining political credibility with the tax-shift focus. Fisher's leaflet explains, "Politics is no longer defined by the struggle between the Left and the Right. The politics of the 21st Century will be divided between those who see the Earth as an interconnected web of life, and those who see it as a collection of resources to be exploited for maximum short-term profit."
Georgists who would like to help are invited to contact Mr. Fisher:
The John Fisher Campaign
PO Box 122
Rodney, ON NOL 2CO
519-785-0203 Fax: 519-785-2178
jrfisher@execulink.com
Green Party of Ontario: http://www.greenparty.on.ca
-------------------------
Washington, DC (GNS/Edward Dodson) - Hardly noted by most news media, the US
Supreme Court has recently handed down, in "Saenz v. Roe," a blockbuster
decision over a California law that attempted to restrict access to
"benefits" based on length of residency. This was ruled unconstitutional
under the 14th Amendment's Privileges and Immunities Clause that reads: "No
State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities of citizens of the United States."
Saenz V. Roe apparently marks the first time this clause has ever actually been used to strike down state law.
John Yoo, law professor at the University of California, writes: "Resurrection of the clause should open the door to more judicial honesty in discussing individual liberties, and it may very well lead to a re-birth in judicial and academic creativity on individual rights - particularly economic rights."
Edward Dodson, Director ejdodson@msn.com
School of Cooperative Individualism
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/5148
-------------------------
Earth (GNS) - On May 24, a moment of silence to consider the Balkan conflict
and those suffering therewith was observed by many people around the world.
This event was instigated and coordinated by Libertarian groups, especially
Hazlitt Foundation.
If it seems such a good idea to Libertarians that people all over the world make simultaneous note of a particular moment in time, where were they exactly one month ago? They were publishing articles disparaging (the Fake) Earth Day (April 22) while making no mention of the real Earth Day (March 20-21) or its purpose (a simultaneous global event at a single moment).
How could they criticize the meaninglessness of Earth Day without making any note of the blatant paid-for historical revisionism scam being perpetrated by the supposed foes of Libertarians, who fund massive efforts to make people think 1) that the first Earth Day was April 22? 2) that Sen. Gaylord Nelson came up with Earth Day? 3) that the purpose of Earth Day is for children to be put to work cleaning up vacant urban lots?
Where were they two months ago? Ignoring the real Earth Day, which IS a simultaneous global event, a shared "moment of silence" at the exact moment of the Spring Equinox. Is that a stupid idea to Libertarians? Will Libertarians continue to call themselves "the Party of Principle"? If they do, who will not laugh out loud?
Maybe it's time for a moment of silence for the demise of newspoken
"Libertarianism" as any sort of real alternative to what already exists in
the US.
___________________________________________
II. WORD
NEWSWATCH: Let Sleeping Public Watchdogs Lie?
The Friday, May 28 Wall Street Journal contains an extremely misinformed (or misinformative) article about the suit which has just been filed against the Lincoln Foundation. Practically every known Georgist organizations is supporting the suit, which claims Lincoln has abandoned its charter to promote Georgist reform and has been using funds dedicated for that cause, to, instead, fight the efforts of actual Georgist activists and organizations.
The Georgist News has challenged WSJ's extremely Lincoln-sided article on
several of the blatantly false assertions stated and quoted therein. The
Georgist News editorial (below) is being sent to WSJ as a "letter to the
editor" and is also posted in the Economic Justice Discussion Room along with
the Wall Street Journal's 5/28 peice:
http://www.progress.org/progs/wwwboard/wwwboard.html
To: Wall Street Journal, WSJ Editors and Michael M. Phillips,
The following editorial is the prime feature in the "press news" section of the number one weekly email newsletter among publicly professed Georgists. They don't even have to subscribe to be on the list; I and my readers simply sign people up because we can tell when somebody "sees the cat." I, Adam Monroe, am the editor. It is, as its name implies, "The Georgist News." The newsletter, whether monthly, weekly, or annually, of the "hard-line" Georgists, as your 5/28/99 "Marketplace" describes them, does not exist to my knowledge or to the knowledge of any of my readers.
If this editorial does not speak for all Georgists, readers are asked to write in and let me know Georgist@aol.com> though I know I've written nothing regarding the WSJ peice with which they won't agree.
LANDED MEDIA "MISTAKE" # 1 MILLION AND ONE; Georgists:"WSJ Is Wrong!!!"
Re: The Wall Street Journal, 5/28/99 - Marketplace
"For Economist's True Believers, A Fine Legacy Has Gone Astray,"
By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL:
-----
WSJ COMPLETELY MISREPRESENTS GEORGISTS AND LINCOLN LAWSUIT!
The Wall Street Journal has made a massive error. Their staff reporter, Michael M. Phillips' article in the May 28 WSJ "Marketplace" section is fraudulently scandalous.
Sue me, WSJ; I owe you nothing for my accusation. You, in fact, owe the
public, as well as Georgists, a huge apology and a prominent correction of
your incorrect portrayal of Georgists, Georgism and the Lincoln suit.
-----
Here are excerpts from the WSJ article I will reference in the editorial
which follows:
"How rigidly should the teachings of an all-but-forgotten 19th-century economist be applied at the end of the millennium?
"Very rigidly, says a group of avid followers of Henry George, who more than 100 years ago argued that a single tax on land values would lead to economic utopia. And they're taking their case to court."
[snip]
"The core of Mr. George's theory is that the value of a parcel of land comes not from the buildings on it, but rather from its proximity to the rest of society. The World Trade Center, for instance, is pricey because it's surrounded by the rest of Manhattan and the roads and services that government has provided. Put the Twin Towers in the South Dakota Badlands and they're not such hot property."
[snip]
"It's not the same thing, counters Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat who is named as a defendant because he sits on the board of a foundation-funded research organization, the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy Inc. 'Today, when people have their personal wealth held in many different forms, some tangible and some intangible, I think that the focus on a single item to the exclusion of everything else probably is a view of the world that nobody would subscribe to.'"
[snip]
"'Had Henry George been living today in the era of the Internet and virtual companies, when we're looking at whole different ways of creating wealth and value for consumers, I think it may have profoundly affected his thinking,' says Rep. Blumenauer, the Lincoln Institute board member. 'But in my mind, despite the fact that the world has changed, there is an important role to be able to understand what impact land value has in the mix that we have today.'"
[snip]
-----
WSJ calls Henry George "all-but-forgotten." Completely wrong, WSJ. Which
economist has sold the most books that weren't required reading at
universities founded and directed by land speculators? Which economist has
the most web sites dedicated to promoting his or her economic theory? Meet
anything-but-forgotten economist Henry George. Where are all the Rothbard
sites, WSJ? Where are all the Keynes sites? For cryin' out loud, WSJ,
Georgist sites have their own search engine, http://www.askhenry.com.
"All-but-forgotten"? By professional academia? Maybe, but would that explain
the signatures of several Nobel Laureate economists on a full-page ad in
Russia's largest newspaper urging Gorbachev to institute the single tax on
land a few years ago? Rather obviously, Henry George is anything but
"forgotten"!
WSJ describes those suing Lincoln as "a group of avid followers of Henry George, ..." Wrong, WSJ. It's every major Georgist organization in the world! Hello? Why didn't that fact make it into your report? Is that fact meaningless? Well, how convenient for those at WSJ who will benefit if Lincoln prevails.
WSJ says, "The core of Mr. George's theory is that the value of a parcel of land comes not from the buildings on it, but rather from its proximity to the rest of society." Wrong, WSJ! The core of Mr. George's, and all Georgists' philosophy is that for fairness, for efficiency and for every other reason, taxation for the use of resource should replace taxation for how productive people are. Here's a short quote to help you with the research on your corrective article: "Taxation upon land values does not lessen the individual incentive to production and accumulation, as do other taxes ..." - Henry George
WSJ presents this dispute as if it were half the Georgists against the other half. Get a clue, WSJ. That is completely wrong! The Lincoln case is NOT about "hard-line George devotees, for whom the single tax has an almost religious appeal, ... " versus "those who admire Mr. George's thinking but believe it unrealistic and unwise to eliminate income, corporate and sales taxes in favor of a tax on land values." How does one who "admire[s] Mr. George's thinking" believe something other than land should be taxed? Preposterous! What is it about his thinking these heretofore unknown "Georgists" "admire"? George thought and wrote 5 books about the idea that land value taxation is a completely different kind of tax than all others. Being a Georgist "admirer" does not make one "Georgist" any more than being an admirer of John Glenn makes one an astronaut. The description WSJ makes is nonsensical.
The man from Lincoln Foundation who WSJ quotes thinks (or pretends to think) George advocated the single tax on land because of its tax simplification effects! Look: "Today, when people have their personal wealth held in many different forms, some tangible and some intangible, I think that the focus on a single item to the exclusion of everything else probably is a view of the world that nobody would subscribe to."
I can't tell you what "nobody" subscribes to, but I can promise you, guarantee you that there is NO "Georgist" who promotes the taxation of wealth production or accumulation of "personal wealth." Georgists want to tax for the use of resource INSTEAD of taxing the production of wealth. That IS what being "Georgist" means. Resource tax is the very basis of the "Green Tax Shift," of which WSJ should have heard by now.
This repeatedly quoted person in WSJ's article has no idea what he's talking about regarding Georgist economics! Obviously, he thinks George was advocating the taxation of wealth creation or accumulation! This quote demonstrates that the fellow WSJ interviews hasn't the faintest idea what the difference is between land tax and other taxes: "Had Henry George been living today in the era of the Internet and virtual companies, when we're looking at whole different ways of creating wealth and value for consumers, I think it may have profoundly affected his thinking."
The man quoted says "whole different ways of creating wealth and value for consumers" might have changed George's position, but ONE of the reasons George and, as well, all other Classical economists, including even Adam Smith, advocated land value taxation, is because no private group is responsible for the creation nor value of land! Nature made it for everyone and proximity to society makes it valuable. In fact, according to the WSJ article, the fact that no individual creates land value is the "core" of Georgism. How, then, can such quotes be reported by WSJ as if sincere?
Would George have thought a tax on some new kind of wealth creation wouldn't "lessen the individual incentive to production and accumulation"? Clearly not! So, quoting this fellow as if he were some sort of authority on Georgism amounts to extreme journalistic negligence at the very least.
Georgists, not "hard-core" Georgists, just "Georgists" demand retractions for your misrepresentations! Or, will you let WSJ's owners' and journalists' financial interests in land speculation override your journalistic duty not to misguide the public? Answer the charge! If not, know what you've just read IS published and your silence will be taken as a cowardly plea of 'guilty.'
To all other readers of this editorial, I say know that what you've just read will be made available at multiple publicly available Internet discussion rooms and bulletin boards. If WSJ doesn't correct itself, you can be confident WSJ does not consider its reputation for journalistic integrity of much value and/or doesn't value the truth.
Perhaps it's all a big mistake, right? Perhaps Mr. Phillips got his information from officers and beneficiaries of Lincoln Foundation and was simply misinformed, right? Fine; still, WSJ should correct the problem. Georgists are incensed! We demand rectification of our misrepresentation and the disparagement of our case against Lincoln by the Phillips article or WE "Georgists" will rectify it ourselves to the best of our ability.
Adam Monroe
Editor, The Georgist News
Georgist@aol.com 212-613-5766
-------------------------
TIME Magazine has a reputation for reeking of US nationalism, but produces
more strict analysis than many US weeklies. TIME's classic style of reportage
utilizes traditional investigative journalism colored with a humbly mystified
perspective.
To be fair, it's possible Georgists could occasionally confuse dissembling with genuine ignorance. See what you think of this sample Q&A from TIME's Kosovo FAQ, a semi-permanent web site feature these, now, months of war there.
"Is the conflict between Albanians and Serbs a religious war?"
Compare the facts they offer ("No, although religious differences certainly play a role in shaping the outlook of [blah blah blah]") with the couch upon which these facts are presented ("religion is just one of a slew of differences between the Kosovar Albanians and Serbs - the two peoples have different origins, histories, cultures and even languages. The war is best characterized as one between two ethnically diverse groups over the political status of Kosovo."
Upon study, despite TIME's xenophobic portrayal of the conflict, the truth
can be extrapolated ("over the political status of Kosovo" = over possession
of a piece of land), but for the truth to actually become surmisable takes
until the very last word ...
-----
Perry Prentice was Vice President of Time, Inc. and Editor/Publisher of
"House & Home" magazine and died in 1989. An article he wrote, called "Hope
for American Cities," demonstrates both Prentice's Georgist tendencies and
how such tendencies put one ahead of the curve when it comes to eco-political
analysis. Here's an excerpt, explaining urban America's notorious failures:
"I think we can all agree that the two most notorious examples of this failure are: First, the failure of private enterprise to provide good homes for the urban poor; Second, the failure of private enterprise to use urban and suburban land wisely and economically (i.e., the creation of urban blight and suburban sprawl).
"The reason for these failures is not far to seek. The reason - by far and away the biggest reason - is that today's tax policies, both federal and local, harness the profit motive backwards when it comes to land use, housing and development."
A Georgist streak behind the scenes might account for why TIME seems a little
swifter than competitors.
(End of Part 1)
(Part 2)
WATCHWATCH: Watching the Watchdog's Watchdog
About.com (formerly "the Mining Co."), is a popular web site that employs experts in various areas of interest, such as Mark Twain guide, Jim Zwick, who has been mentioned many times in this newsletter (Twain, of course, was a friend of Henry George and an advocate of the land tax).
When About.com was the Mining Co., guides seemed open to new information from the Georgist perspective and were happy to repair reports on their sites when having accidentally forwarded false facts such as regarding "the first Earth Day."
Whether About.com will continue to remain a truly alternative Internet agent
is, of course, yet unknown. However, with the amount of money in TV
commercials right now, it may behoove Georgists to find out.
-----
About.com has sites on just "about" everything. Their guide to politics,
Rowena Wall, seems quite invitational. This is from her latest newsletter:
TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME?
We want you... to host chat for us! Actually,
you don't have to be that tall - a little
smarts wouldn't hurt. And maybe a coherent
opinion or two on politics. Does this sound
like you? WRITE ME! (We need you!)
uspolitics.guide@about.com
And, in another recent edition of her weekly letter, she writes:
There's a lot going on now, and you can be assured that we're staying on top of all the news. Let me know if you have a particular interest in any subject of a political nature.
Folks, she's practically begging for it. Somebody, get over there and ell
'em what it's all about: http://uspolitics.about.com
-----
About.com's section on prophecy and the paranormal currently has an
interesting tie-in with the Balkan War. It seems an illiterate Serbian man
who lived just prior to the 20th Century was thought a seer, so a priest
wrote down everything he said.
Unfortunately, Tarabich also predicts a time when "evil ones will ravage the whole earth and men will start to die in great numbers" and many other catastrophic events. But he also alludes to a time of enlightenment when men will rediscover a "real power" within themselves, and "...when that happens, people will be so sorry that they didn't discover it before, because this knowledge is so simple."
Georgists can attest to the accuracy of that prediction. The whole story: http://paranormal.about.com/library/weekly/aa051099.htm
GEOWATCH: Georgist Media Update
Earth Day Founder, John McConnell has written a poignant letter on the
occasion of Memorial Day, the US national holiday dedicated to the memory of
US military personnel who have fought and who have died to preserve the quest
for freedom, equality and justice. Read it in the Economic Justice Discussion
Room: http://www.progress.org/progs/wwwboard/wwwboard.html
-------------------------
This registration deadline for this year's conference of the CGO (Council of
Georgist Organizations) is coming up - Thursday, June 10. As reported
previously in this periodical, the conference planned for this year stands a
very good chance of being our biggest and best yet.
Sue and Scott Walton have managed to make these events progressively better attended and exciting over the past several years and 1998's in Portland received more media attention than ever with the expert help of Geonomy President, Jeffery Smith. This year, we'll be in Gaithersburg, Maryland, just outside the US capitol.
In addition, a conference in the land tax community of Arden, Delaware on Georgist education techniques will follow. It's sponsored by the Henry George Institute and the Arden Georgist Guild. As HGI Director, Lindy Davies says, "Education is Activism." Here's the link for more about the Arden conference: http://www.henrygeorge.org/arden.htm
And here's one for the CGO conference in Gaithersburg: http://www.progress.org/cgo/conf99.html
By the way, people which will have an organizational affiliation on their conference name tag need to contact Robin Robertson with that information before 25 June.
And, one more reminder: the correct phone # for the Gaithersburg Hilton is
301-977-8900.
-------------------------
With increasing regularity, Georgists are being asked, "what is a
'Georgist'?" or "what references are most recommended for either Georgists
and/or Non-Georgists?" With so much available information scattered across
the Internet, the answer to such questions is sometimes difficult.
Attempts are underway, therefore, to compile the quintessential Georgist FAQ pages. Answers to questions would, in most cases, be hyperlinked from various Georgist web sites. Links to other such FAQs would also be listed there. Please, send in your suggestions for this project. Or, if you're working on a similar project, write the Georgist News and let us know, so others doing the same can be connected with you.
Another project along these lines is an online Georgist reference library. Many have commented that while there are numerous web pages with lists of Pro-Georgist quotes, there is no such list which is comprehensive and includes full documentation for each quote. The same goes for Georgist web sites - no comprehensive list yet exists. Is there even a tally?
Similar suggestions made have been for a list of the very best Georgist position statements and debate on many issues and aspects of history. In effect, the sum of these might comprise an online history book from the Georgist perspective.
If you've a particular interest in or are already working on any of these
projects, please, contact Adam Monroe at: Georgist@aol.com / 212-613-5766
(vm).
-----
Example: Though I visit a lot, I've, somehow, even after almost a year of
publication, never mentioned one of the best Georgist web sites on the
planet, which is truly masterfully maintained and constantly evolving - Tax
Reform Australia - so artful, so easy to read, so timely and loaded with new
and important material, I always look forward to reviewing it:
http://www.taxreform.com.au
-----
Speaking of excellent Georgist web sites by Australians, I've just learned of
John Massam's web site on Social Justice & Economic Freedom:
http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm
GEORGIST HISTORY BOOK - Installment #1?
The following is reprinted from page 80 of the collection, "In Palestine and
Other Poems," by Richard Watson Gilder, published in 1898 by The Century Co.
"Of Henry George (Who Died Fighting Against Political Tyranny and Corruption)"
Now is the city great! That deep-voiced bell
Tolls for a martyred hero. Such is he
Who loved her, strove for her, and nobly fell.
His fire be ours, - the passion to be free.
New York, 1897
That inspirational poem and many other fascinating texts by and about Henry
George and the land question can be viewed *in their original format* at the
University of Michigan's web site, "The Making of America." MOA scans the
actual pages from books and periodicals between 1800 and 1925 and makes them
available online free to the public. Type "Henry George" (without the
quotation marks) into MOA's search engine; the results demonstrate, to a
considerable degree, the disparity between George's significance in American
history and the significance with which he is treated by modern textbooks
with titles such as "American History."
U of M's "Making of America": http://www.umdl.umich.edu/moa
-------------------------
On June 13, decision makers at the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation will be
meeting near RSF offices in New York City to review progress reports on the
various Georgist grantees currently engaged in RSF-funded activities and
projects. New grant proposals will also be considered. For more information,
contact RSF at:
The Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
149 Madison Ave., Suite 601
New York, NY 10016 - 6713
212/683-6424; Fax 212/683-6454; schalkenba@aol.com
URL: http://www.progress.org/books
-------------------------
Scotland (Peter Gibb) - Land Reform Scotland has now registered its own
domain name. Our website (under construction) can be found at:
http://www.LandReformScotland.org
General correspondence for Land Reform Scotland should be sent to Peter Gibb
at: gibb@LandReformScotland.org
________________________________________________
III. NETWORK
Georgist efforts in the New Jersey campaign demonstrate the need for a more coordinated organization of Georgist Internet envoys. Marking out specific "territories" or "missions" for Georgist cyber-emmissaries, it seems, could ease the frustration many have feeling there's too much ground to cover. Laying out more specific areas of concentration, Georgists might be better able to cover more areas with the seedlings of enlightenment, increasing our ranks and our chances.
Ready for your first mission? There are two theaters of operation: 1) Write
to the Wall Street Journal and let them know their article in the 5/28/99
issue misrepresents Georgists, Georgism and the suit against the Lincoln
Foundation. 2) Utilize the contact information in this issue's lead story and
persuade New Jerseyans to call their representatives. For more details on
these, call or write Adam Monroe at: Georgist@aol.com / 212-613-5766 (vm).
-------------------------
Greg Reeves of The Kansas City Star posted the following request, which was
picked up by Sue Walton and forwarded to the GN. Georgists might be uniquely
able to help him.
"For a panel on urban sprawl at the IRE [Investigative Reporters and Editors] national convention next month, my copanelist and I would like to give a look at coverage of the issue in the past several years. If you would be so kind as to send me an original copy or reprint of your article or series, I'll make it part of a slide show. Your reward will be great fortune, and I can make you a copy of the slide if you request it.
Greg Reeves greeves@kcstar.com
Database Editor, Kansas City Star (816) 234-4366
Kansas City Star
1729 Grand Ave.
Kansas City, Mo. 6410
-----
IRE is, officially, "a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to
improving the quality of journalism through intensive training and a
cooperative exchange of professional advice."
IRE http://www.ire.org (573) 882-2042 Fax: (573) 882-5431
138 Neff Annex
Missouri School of Journalism
Columbia, Missouri 65211-1200
-------------------------
More studies of the sprawl-busting effects of the land tax shift might be
helpful. A message posted by Larry Bohlen on Sierra Club's email discussion
on sprawl
Larry Bohlen, one of SC's leading anti-sprawl agents, recently forwarded a press release from the US Dept of Transportation announcing a great deal of money is available for "Smart Growth."
While most Georgists might assume this money is earmarked for land speculators, there is a strong element of desparation and trepidation surrounding the issue and from the text of the press release, it's possible the US DOT is open to innovation. Instead of just buying up suburban land to bid up the market price of other land parcels, how about the establishment of more places like Arden, Delaware and Fairhope, Alabama where land-only property tax systems have kept those cities centralized without sacrificing anything whatsoever in the way of quality of life?
The full text of the recent DOT press release is on the Economic Justice Discussion Board: http://www.progress.org/progs/wwwboard/wwwboard.html
US Department Of Transportation, Office of the Secretary ~ Office of Public
Affairs, Washington, DC 20590
Contact: Jim Pinkelman 202-366-0660
Federal Highway Administration web site provides extensive information on the
program: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov
The Federal Register notice (Docket No. FHWA-98-4370) can be accessed at
http://www.nara.gov/fedreg [or]
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara
DOT Public Affairs Web Site: http://www.dot.gov/briefing.htm
-------------------------
CATO, the Right-Wing Think Tank, has an extensive "Events List" for people
who have $100 to burn: http://www.cato.org/events/calendar.html
___________________________________________
V. FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK
The leadership and members of the Council of Georgist Organizations as well
as of the BCCI and many others express their condolescences to the New York
Henry George School on the death of Connie Weinstein.
-------------------------
"Everyone I know reads GNS" - Sue Walton
-------------------------
"I certainly enjoy your GeoNews." - John Fisher
-------------------------
"I have made use of your news. It does fill a gap." - Mary Lehman
-------------------------
"If nothing else, I read the Georgist News! It creates a real sense of
family and movement. Thanks to all who make it happen. That's all of us,
isn't it?" - David Giesen
-------------------------
Yes! That's absolutely correct. In fact, here are a couple of requests!
1) I get so much email and have to scan through so many lists, I can lose track of an item or two occasionally. Please, if I owe anyone correspondence or seem to be neglecting some occasion of import or news reference, or even if you just have some general advice for this newsletter, let me know!
2) Many of you already do this (thank you!), but here's a note to others and to newer Georgist News contributors. To facilitate our mutual efforts, try to "pre-form," as well as possible, items you send into the Georgist News. This is of help to a degree you probably aren't aware. Just imagine the info you're about to send as a press release and you'll notice that essential data that might not otherwise, will naturally find its way into your submissions. That kind of assistance would maximize this project's overall effect. Thanks!
George Truly,
Adam Jon Monroe, Jr.
Editor, The Georgist News
georgist@aol.com
* * *
The Georgist News relies heavily on volunteer correspondents and writers! Email potential news items, press releases and story references to: gnewsdesk@aol.com
This edition of The Georgist News and archives are available on our home page, hosted by Scott Kroyer at: http://www.kroyer.com/gns
The Georgist News is very grateful to the following institutions for providing visitors to their web sites with a link to the home page of The Georgist News.
The EarthSharing Home Page: http://www.earthsharing.org.au
The Georgist Educational Association: http://www.multiline.com.au/~georgist
10 Broome Street
South Perth, Western Australia, 6151
Phone: (08) 9367 5386 (international +61 8 9367 5386)
georgist@multiline.com.au
John Massam's Social Justice & Economic Freedom Site: http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm
There are many ways you might be able to help this project grow and improve. If you'd like to become further involved or if there is any way The Georgist News might be of greater use to you or your related projects, please, contact Adam Monroe at: georgist@aol.com
Web site suggestions can be sent to Scott Kroyer at: kroyer@scc.net.
The Georgist News is honored by and deeply grateful for support received from:
The Robert Schalkenbach Foundation (The Publishers of Henry George)
149 Madison Ave., Suite 601, New York, NY 10016 - 6713
212/683-6424; Fax 212/683-6454; schalkenba@aol.com
URL: http://www.progress.org/books
The Georgist News ~ 1 June 1999 Volume II, Issue #9
Weekly News of the Georgist Movement Worldwide