Georgism 101 🔰

Landlords hate him! This guy found out a solution to the world's problems with one simple tax....

[josephedmond]

I work at an Amazon distribution center. I'm not exaggerating when I say this place is enormous, you could basically fit an entire town inside of it and it's only one of many across the US and possibly the world. So to me the genius in this idea is self-evident. Amazon can get around paying taxes on it's revenue through legal tomfoolery but it can't get around the fact that it owns a tremendous amount of land, it couldn't avoid paying taxes.

[milesm.]

- It's a solid philosophy positioned between 'left' and 'right', purposing a very clear economic system.
- It's one of the few 'fringe' populist ideologies that have actually been implemented.
- It's been endorsed by all types of economists, and has been echoed by major political figures.
- It's the idea of a man who has experienced poverty, and ran for office putting working people as a priority.

I'm in.

[AlejandroFlores-vitl]

The amount of genius ideas that Americans have had but were only implemented outside the US is maddening, Americans aren't stupid just our government

[coshatiuav]

Literally didn't cross my mind that Singapore built on Georgist ideas.

[Ayeloo]

This comment section is a treat, all sorts of people naming their crazy niche beliefs and different walks of life yet they can't disagree on how neat georgism sounds

[SimpleTrax]

Most governments oppose this because the government officials themselves own insane amounts of land, therefore they would be contradicting themselves.

[neoyuls]

You know, for a while after it was published, "Progress and Poverty" (George's magnum opus) was actually the second most sold book in the US, just after the Bible. Strange he's really barely known outside the economics profession considering how popular he was in his time. Hell, even within the economics field he's often glossed over, if not omitted, from economic theory classes. As an economics student, I was really surprised to find out how influential he is considering he hasn't been mentioned once in any of my classes.

[largealmond]

Thank you for knowing the difference between "liberal" and "leftist, " it truly is such a breath of fresh air. Very informative video

[hattruck]

Georgism is technically compatable with Libertarianism, Liberalism, Syndicalism, Social Democracy, Conservatism and even Fascism. That's the great thing about it.

[Hubba]

Marx: "Seize the means of production!"
Georg: "Get dat dirt, yo!"

[atryan]

So basically we just all collectively become the landlord

[abrahemsamander]

Great video. I love how you mention how so many different people, ranging from anarcho socialists to conservative capitalists come together to form a “centrist” ideology. That’s the most appealing aspect of georgism to me, how you can see it’s benefits no matter what your beliefs are.

[nikolasb]

I find it shocking how there are so many great ideas that almost everybody would agree are fair and would help society prosper yet the majority of people still can’t rap their minds around anything other than capitalism, socialism, and communism

[soulman]

For only having a 7th grade education Henry George really was an impressive man.
He actually convinced his own father that he would get a better education through reading on his own, having a private tutor come through every so often, and attending lectures occasionally.
He left home at 14 to work on a ship, circumnavigating the world twice before finally settling in San Francisco and eloping with a 17 year old Australian orphan who was living with her wealthy industrialist uncle.
Man ran his own newspaper for a time, was the head honcho at the San Francisco chronicle, and periodically fell on times hard enough that he actually considered robbing people in the street.
He had four children, remained happily married till his death at 56, and in his time was known as the most famous man in America behind Thomas Edison, and Mark Twain.
He more or less kicked off the progressive era which gave us such leaders as Teddy Roosevelt.
Truly an American genius, and it’s a crying shame that he is so unknown today for his massive contributions to society, and civilization as a whole.

[markvorobjov]

At first I thought "huh, why does he make it sound like some crazy idea? seems logical". Then I remembered that I live in a country with a land tax implemented (Estonia) and that's why it doesn't sound crazy to me.

[bladonski]

I like land tax a lot as it solves the problem of landlords buying up every square inch of land to rent out to people but still allows for property rights to exist aswell.

[baronofbahlingen]

I’m a pretty damn hard conservative and I find almost nothing objectionable with this; the land and its fruits belong to the people, it was gifted to us all. I see it as a far fairer alternative to socialism, and builds stronger social solidarity than pure capitalism. I wish to see some kind of common ground with all those who try to bring justice to our economy. 💚💛

[KOGitnow]

Everyone I try and introduce Georgism to, I send them this video it is so great!

[reebomk]

"what do you mean the earths core is not mine?, Its literally underneath my property"

[GeneralLiuofBoston]

5:54
Just one little misconception about Georgism by the Republic of China. It only saw implementation in Taiwan post-1950 following the end of the Chinese Civil War (when the Kuomintang fled to Taiwan). Previously to 1949, it was under the control of the Japanese Empire from 1895 (following the Treaty of Shimoneski) until 1945 (following the end of World War II). The Kuomintang between 1912 (following its formation after the Xinhai Revolution) until 1928, it was a Nationalist party and one of many factions in a divided China until the Kuomintang unified the nation in 1928 (known as the Northern Expedition) from 1928 to 1949, the Kuomintang was the Chinese government on mainland China until the Communists won the Civil War.

I do not know for sure whether or not the land value tax was properly or formally implemented when the Kuomintang controlled mainland China, but it definitely did post Civil War times and still does to this day (the theory of Georgism being implemented was recorded to be proposed in 1924 by Sun Yat-sen, who led the Kuomintang, in his lectures for the Three Principles of the People).