5 Comments
May 9, 2023Liked by Joseph Addington

Great post. It's eerily remarkable how similar the debates they were having are with the debates we have now.

Then, as now, Henry George's ideas bridged the ideological divides. But ultimately, because he refused to conform to a particular camp, he was rejected by both left and right.

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May 9, 2023Liked by Joseph Addington

The clash between the single tax and socialism and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries has parallels today with the clash between those who advocate for a carbon tax (or carbon fee-and-dividend) as the best way to control climate change versus those who believe the solution to be nationalizing the fossil fuel industry.

The history of the Soviet Union, communist China and other nations has shown that a state monopoly of all power is not a happy situation. Similarly, where is the evidence that nationalizing the fossil fuel industry would help reduce the use of fossil fuels? Many of the largest oil producers (including the largest, Saudi Aramco) are already state-owned. Do they demonstrate more environmental or social responsibility than their privately-owned competitors?

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author

Great essay.

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This is a good introduction of single tax as distinct from socialist analysis. We now need more posts , more often, and in nuts and bolts explanations of the workings of single tax. This could be from writings already published or in newly written prescriptions for l by

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Well, I'm convinced.

Should everyone have the opportunity to be upwardly mobile in society?

If Yes,

- Then do you trust government?

- If Yes,

--- Then Socialist

--- Else Georgist

- Else Kleptocrat

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