THE GEORGIST NEWS

That's where we may be able to take advantage. We have here a coherent though still disorganized movement comprising diverse sectors of the society with a single objective (no privatization of water service). Here in Nicaragua and Latin America in general, they just LOVE conferences in nice hotels. So, we are planning to put on an international conference on the topic of privatization: why is it wrong? How can it be stopped? What is its alternative?

The IHG is now compiling a list of organizations in Nicaragua and other countries who would be interested in attending this kind of international conference (it could even include proponents of privatization - to respectfully discredit their arguments in debate). This conference would be an excellent opportunity to showcase the georgist analysis and remedy and, if managed correctly, it could generate a whole new movement of georgist consciousness in action. To that end, we would plan to have a strong contingent of international georgists on hand.

First, we don't want to reinvent the wheel, so if any of you know of such a conference already planned, please let us know. Otherwise, can you help us by generating a list of organizations and leaders in Europe, North America, and Latin America, georgist or non-georgist, who may be interested in supporting or participating in this conference in Nicaragua?

We will keep you informed as this project evolves.

Paul A. Martin, Director
Instituto Henry George

For further information, visit the Instituto web site at http://www.ibw.com.ni/~ihg

2. News from the United Kingdom

GN Comments:

"Mayor of London backs congestion charging for the skies"

Mayor Ken Livingstone today backed the idea of congestion charging for the skies at Heathrow airport.

During his first question time at the new Greater London Authority (GLA) premises City Hall, the mayor responded to questions from the Green group. He said he supported the idea of a charging regime for air traffic along the same lines as his ideas for road traffic. He also said it would generate 'a revenue stream' that could be put to public use.

At present Livingstone doesn't have the power to introduce such a measure. He could not for the moment raise revenue in the same way for the skies as he plans to for roads. He would need to work with government to make it happen. However the London-based think tank, The Henry George Foundation, points out that the mayor could find considerable support for the policy.

Earlier this year the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) - the influential Blairite think tank - backed the idea. A spokesperson for the Institute was quoted as saying the idea had been well received at both UK government and European levels.

Henry George Foundation Chief Executive Peter Gibb says "at the moment it's really a free for all in the skies. And that can't be good for safety." A worked-out solution exists for the problem of congestion in the skies. "We have to 'cap and licence' the use of the airspace" says Gibb. "The government must auction annual tradeable licences to the carriers."

(Peter Gibb also states that "all of us would benefit from the increased democratic control over the air routes. The taxpayer would benefit from the new ongoing revenue stream into public coffers. And the industry itself would benefit from the new free trade in licences - which would introduce competition in a safe way. The introduction of the idea is inevitable." He sees the approach being applied to all sorts of areas of public life. "Public licensing of our airspace is a win-win-win idea" he concludes.)

The Foundation argues it's the only way to ensure safety and fairness in the increasingly congested skies above Britain.

For further information please contact Paul Brandon (Press Officer) 0207377 8885 or 07803 908 084, or visit www.henrygeorgefoundation.org/ online.

3. A Challenge from Claude Arnold

This concerns RENT:

A great hindrance to the spread of the Single Tax Idea has been and is our failure to devise and publicize a RENT FORMULA based on physical, discernible, identifiable factors: Factors that cannot be manipulated by personal considerations.

Our present ways of calculating, computing, figuring, "Rent" are all based on "Land Value." Problem: if we are ever successful at taking community increased land values for public revenue, we will have so reduced "Land Prices" that there will be no basis on which to calculate RENT.

The Fairhope Single Tax Corporations (Fairhope, Alabama) spent much effort in the 1970's and 80's wrestling with this problem. The effort came to rest in inertia: "Too Complicated", "People will never understand it", etc.

We can perform the intricate mathematics required to put men on the moon; to build and man "Space Stations," to flood the world with computers: BUT WE HAVE NO 'RENT FORMULA.'

Can "Georgist News" readers help find a solution?

4. Book Review

"For Protestant Self-Determination: The Key to the Ulster Question,"

The good news is that Matthew Platts has stepped forward and written a review. We hope you will find it informative.

Review: For Protestant Self-Determination, The Key to the Ulster Question.
Book by Christopher Hussey - reviewed by Matthew Platts

Christopher Hussey has some interesting ideas. He seems quite undecided on the system of dual majority and the dual nature of Northern Ireland. While he suggests that the indefinite plebiscite on the future of Northern Ireland should have a majority amongst 'both' communities to change the status quo, and that there should be a majority-catholic counterpart to the majority-protestant RUC/PSNI, he also pursues the idea of shaping policy around the creation of a single Ulster (Strangely for someone accurate in most fields, Hussey always says 'Ulster', never 'Northern Ireland').

Certainly the concept of such a nationality is a heartening one. The representation of a unified people in Northern Ireland would conquer the greatest barrier to peace, and from then on Unionism and Nationalism become obsolete concepts, both a matter of pragmatism. What is at question is the feasibility of accomplishing this: it has been attempted with varying degrees of success, and may contribute to the already poor status of non-sectarian factions in Northern Ireland.

To his credit, Hussey seems comfortable with the enormity of the task of uniting Northern Ireland. What I will say is this: I am never sure what Mr. Hussey's allegiances have been and at any time, are. He has a tendency to mention a United Ireland from time to time in an exceedingly casual fashion, yet ridicules the excesses of those who would call themselves 'republicans' over the years. He requires a large majority of consent to a United Ireland, yet refers to many unionists in the most derogatory tones. Hussey, like myself, doesn't much ally with either faction.

Hussey has mined to the main roots of the problems facing Northern Ireland, stemming from a combination of historical accident and the Plantation of Ulster: the land and the two-party perception of the state – it has not, nor has it ever been, as simple as the deluded (and sadly, commonly English) belief of a Protestant versus Catholic war. However, Hussey notes, this is what it has amounted to, in a zero-sum game, with limited resources and an apparently, though certainly not actually, self-contained battlefield. Despite the 'zero-sum game' nature of the conflict, Northern Ireland, as Hussey notes well, is not sustainable: its continuing existence needs constant political, material, economic subsidy by Britain and Ireland. Hussey's description of Northern Ireland reminds me of a very dark two-liner I heard in the dim and distant past:
"Why don't they take all the politicians, put them on an island, and let them fight amongst themselves?"
"This is an island, and the politicians are fighting amongst themselves."

Georgists will take particular delight in Mr. Hussey's discussion of the land. He feels, with some justification in my opinion, that ownership is one of the central problems of Northern Ireland: a barricade between landlord and pope. Land nationalisation, he suggests, would remove Protestant-ascendancy in both perception and in practice, while preventing the possibility of Catholic - or any other - ascendancy. The common ownership of the land by the people would remove one of the main areas of contention in Northern Ireland.

Christopher Hussey's defence and advocacy of his two proposed policies of nationalisation of the land and institution of land values taxation is passionate and stirring, his phraseology beautiful and his convictions unquestionable. His fifth chapter is worth more than the rest of the book in my humble opinion.

Hussey does not, in my opinion, live up to his promise of a 'key to the Ulster question', but puts in place a closely-worded and detailed account of Northern Irish history and analysis of the situation complete with his own suggestions on suitable policies and structures for policy. His mastery of the situation is admirable.

Hussey is a great author. I admire him for his insight, his commitment to to the land economics of free and equal association, and his ability to remain positively independent, yet ruggedly critical of 'both' sides of the argument while confronted with all the mistakes of history. I can do no other but endorse this book and send my congratulations to the author. Despite the slightly misleading (Unionist-sounding, according to a historian of my acquaintance) title, "For Protestant Self-Determination: The Key to the Ulster Question" is a thoroughly worthwhile tome.

GN Comments: Many thanks to Matthew Platts for his review.

5. Silent Theft

http://www.progress.org/revboll.htm

6. Tax Reform Australia is now Prosper Australia

Along with their name change, the organization also has a new WWW address: http://www.prosper.org.au

GN Comments: If you have never seen their magazine Progress, be sure to request a copy. It is a top-notch periodical.

7. New Book by Steven Cord

Society at the Crossroads

"Society at the Crossroads" attacks the doctrine of ethical relativism, and considers such questions as: What is the underlying cause of the social problems we face? What limitations should there be on our freedom to act? What is the rational purpose of life? How can we end involuntary poverty and attain continued economic prosperity?

You can find out all about the book, and order a copy for yourself, at this web site: http://www.societyatthecrossroads.com/

A review of Dr. Cord's book appears in the newest issue of GroundSwell, the membership periodical of Common Ground-U.S.A. For more information about Common Ground-U.S.A., visit http://www.progress.org/cg/

8. New Book by Kamran Mofid

Globalisation for the Common Good

Says Harrison, "Dr. Mofid taught economics in universities in Britain, Australia and the United States. He became disillusioned with his subject as he observed the plight of millions of people living on less than a buck a day..."

But then Mofid became acquainted with the Georgist paradigm and penned his own book, Globalisation for the Common Good. "Dr. Mofid summarizes the Georgist paradigm as offering a viable alternative to the neo-classical system that delivers an abusive approach to world trade."

Caspar Davis points out that the book has already created something of a sensation, enough to help bring about an international conference in Oxford on this subject. The conference is taking place right now (July 27-August 3, 2002).

For additional information, visit http://www.commongood.info/

You can order Dr. Mofid's book from the above web site, or write to the publisher, Shepheard-Walwyn Ltd., Suite 604, The Chandlery, 50 Westminster Bridge Rd., London SE1 7QY UK.

9. Last Chance - CGO Conference

Conferees will be especially pleased to see George Collins, who will be attending for the first time in several years.

For conference information, contact Sue Walton at swalton@surfbest.net or by phone at 888-262-9015 (within the USA) or 847-475-0391.

Also, you can visit http://www.progress.org/cgo/conf02.html but you must hurry!

10. Farewell to Evelyn Friend Loomis

Evelyn Friend Loomis died on July 23, 2002 at the age of 86. She served as the director of the Henry George School in Sacramento for over thirty years and as a board member for the past six years. She was active in the United Nations Association, Peace Action, the local Democratic Party, the Alliance for Democracy, and many other "peace and justice" groups in Sacramento, but her primary loyalty was always to the School and its mission. She will be missed, not only by her fellow Georgists in Sacramento, but by the many who knew her around the world.

Contributing to this issue:: Claude W. Arnold, Cliff Cobb, Caspar Davis, Fred Harrison, Paul Martin, Matthew Platts

Copy Editor:

Founder:

Publisher:

Made possible in part by funding from interested individuals.