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A More Stealthy Georgist Cat

The Georgist cat is small and lean

And often doesn’t get to be seen.

It hides in the branches of an economics'-tree

So it takes a long while for you or for me,

To appreciate its cute and original form

That the landlords are so ready to scorn.

The economics'-tree has many fine branches

(On which we contend, there are no free-lunches).

Whilst the land-owning rich in the city all claim

As bloated capitalists, that they’re not to blame

For the gap that lays ‘twixt the poor and the wealthy,

But oppose any tax to make our nation healthy.

Have you heard the tale of a committee, that

Thought to bell and get warning of a fat cat?

But could not find a soul to apply this device,

Because typically all were a council of mice!

Our Georgist cat has a bell ready-fitted,

(Which makes this analogy more to be pitted).

This warning sound makes our ideals unwanted,

For a new tax is how politicians get doubted.

So the Georgist cat fails to catch any mice

That pose as landlords, along with their vice.

But how shall we silence the bell’s warning sound

And quieten the news that our pussy’s around?

Our Georgist feline is in serious error,

‘Cause its bell draws attention not only to whether

Valuable sites can be ethically shared,

But also the rent from a site is declared

As the means to replace other kinds of taxation,

Which obviously causes the landlords vexation.

In the economics' tree many other beasts lurk

But are missed, after learning of Henry G’s quirk

Through the cat-finder’s recently brilliant discovery.

This writer seeks a new means for recovery

From our politi-unacceptable claim,

And stealthily project LVT once again.

If we would but examine some more of the tree

Alternatives are waiting there for us to see.

Among them is hiding a far better way

For an equivalent LVT effect, to stay

In essence, without causing such evil offences

To the landlords and their partitioning fences.

When a property-owner decides to sell--quick

The gov’ment buys its land, and not the public!

Its occupant then leases it for a similar fee

To the One-Tax of Henry George’s decree.

Any buildings on-site should be sold as previously

But without the land, on which the price grievously

Had risen, with huge speculation in its advance

That stopped entrepreneurs from having a chance.

The cost of this land must be raised through new bonds

Which the government sells and the public responds,

‘Though their interest-rate’s a bit lower than rent,

Their returns are more stable than the average tenant!

This process will take many years to complete--

So its financial support is no great money feat.

After the lease-fees begin to collect,

Gov’ments can tax less, and firmly expect

To pursue this policy without change, until

All the lease-fees are site-rents in the national till.

With the land properly shared, the government sees

That site development stays with the current leases.

Other taxes that cause so much trouble and hate

Are scrapped, with great pleasure to all in the state,

Except for some bankers and the tax collectors

Whose actions no longer apply in these sectors.

Land-rights will be shared through this simple device,

By a fast-growing country that takes our advice. 😎

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Archemides sought to move the earth by use of a lever and a fulcrum. We have Progress and Poverty as a lever, but where can its force be pivoted when there is firm objection from land owners to the introduction of the Single Tax as the means for providing equality of opportunity?

The way I choose to support the great ideas contained within this book is through their better clarification. I am not alone in this and in particular I recommend the book "LAND" by Martin Adams. My book also clarifies the more general situation about the better understanding of our social system of macroeconomicsand specifically about how it works. Past confusion on this subject is still being created through how the subject is usually taught, but my book "Consequential Macroeconomics" and its associated working papers SSRN 2855571 "Einstein's Criterion Applied to Logical Macroeconomics Modelling" and SSRN 2600103 "A Mechanical Model for Teaching Macroeconomics" are significant ways for finding out how our social sytem really works and of what it consists in terms of how it functions. Write to me for free e-copies and share them with your friends. chesterdh@hotmail.com

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