TheSocialCharge

OnHenryGeorgeandthequestionofprivateproperty
SilvanoBorruso

[Anunpublishedpaperwritten4February2001revised27April2003]

Principle
ItisknownthattheMagisteriumoftheChurch,fromRerumNovarumonwards,maintainsthat
privatepropertyisbynatureloadedwithasocialcharge.QuotingAquinas,LeoXIIIsaysthat"man
shouldnotconsiderhisoutwardpossessionsashisown,butascommontoall,soastosharethem
withoutdifficultywhenothersareinneed"andadds,"itisadutytogivetotheindigentoutofthat
whichisover(n.24)."
CentesimusAnnusspellsout:"Ownershipofthemeansofproduction,whetherinindustryor
agriculture,isjustandlegitimateifitservesusefulwork.Itbecomesillegitimate,however,whenitis
notutilizedorwhenitservestoimpedetheworkofothersinanefforttogainaprofitwhichisnotthe
resultoftheoverallexpansionofworkandthewealthofsociety,butratheristheresultofcurbing
themorofillicitexploitation,speculationorthebreakingofsolidarityamongworkingpeople(n.
43)."IthasneverbeentheMagisterium'stasktoproposepracticalsolutions.

Historicalreview
ItislessknownthattheprincipleofthesocialchargewasinforcethroughoutChristendom,for
ecclesiasticalasmuchasforsecularpower,duringthesevencenturiesoffeudalism.Thefeudallord,
controllinglandontheking'sbehalf,dischargedthecostsofadministrationanddefence.TheChurch,
controllinglandmuchonthesamebehalf,[1]dischargedthecostsofsocialservices:health,
education,hostelry,etc.Thepeople,largelydedicatedtoagriculture,paidtaxesinkindtowhatever
feudallordtheywerevassalsto.Suchtaxamountedtoaboutfourweeksofwork.Tolive,afarmer
andfamilyneededanother14weeks.Theextras(bacon,beerandsuchluxuries)requiredanotherten
weeks.The150odddaysleftoverweredaysofleisurededicatedtohelpinbuildingcathedrals,to
crafthouseholdobjectsofcommonuse,etc.Whateverstillremainsofbotharestillobjectsof
admirationorcontemplation.
TheEnglishbaronsofMagnaChartafame(1215)firstcrackedthesystem.Muchliketoday's
transnationalcorporation,theywantedfreedom,butforthemselves,notforthepeople.Theywanted
tobefreefromtheobligationsofdefenceandadministration,i.e.fromthesocialchargeattachedto
ownershipofland.FromEngland,baronialirresponsibilityspreadlikeanoilslickthroughout
Christendom.
Relentlessly,theresponsibilityforthecostsofdefenceandadministrationmovedfromthenobilityto
thesovereign,nowforcedtotaxthepeopletomaintainbureaucratsandsoldiers.Socialsecurity

remainedinthehandsoftheecclesiasticalbureaucracy,butnotforlong.TheconfiscationofChurch
property,farfromenrichingtheroyalcofferswenttothealreadyrichlandlords.These,nowfreefrom
allobligations,rackrentedtheirtenantsleavingbarelyenoughforsubsistence.Laterthesame
landlordsdevisedindirecttaxationtogetridofwhatevershredoffiscalresponsibilitytheystillhad
andtotransferthewholeburdenontothepeople.

Slavery,slowlyoustedduringthefirstmillennium,sneakedinduringthesecond.Thereexistinfact
twowaysofunjustlyexploitingtheworkofothers:eitherconsideringtheirpersonsasprivate
property,orpreventingthemfromaccessingland,thusforcingthemtoworkforwhoevermonopolises
it.Aphilosophicaldistinctionbetweenthetwospeciesofslaveryispossible,butnotveryusefulfor
thoseatthereceivingendofit.

Theexpelleesfromtheirancestrallandssoughtrefugeinthecommons,untiltheirenclosurefollowed
byasecondexpulsiontowardstheendofthe18thcentury.

WhatsavedthelandlessfromdeathbystarvationwastheIndustrialRevolution.Farfromcausing
poverty,ascarelesshistorianswantustobelieve,theIndustrialRevolutionalleviateditshardest
effects,albeitunwittingly.

"Reverend"Malthusaddedinsulttoinjurybyblamingthelandlessforoverpopulating(!)theslums
aroundthecities,andproposingthattheybreedless.Thismonstrousliesurvivestodayinquiteafew
socalledhistorytextbooks.MalthuswasmoremoderatethanJonathanSwift,whohavingnoticedthe
phenomenonacenturyearlier,hadactuallyproposed(tongueincheekonehopes)toservethebabies
ofthepoorasfoodatthetablesoftherich.

Othersalsonoticed.Quesnay(16941774)"theEuropeanConfucius"ashewasdubbed,
recommendedtheimptuniqueonthelandasamodernmeanstowardsreplacingtheoldsocial
charge.Turgot(172781)triedtobreakthetaxfreelifestyleoftheprivilegedclasseswithoutsocial
duties,butthelandlordsfoughtbackcausinghisruin.AdamSmith(172390)noticedtoo,butthefat
pensionbytheDukeofBuccleuchpreventedhimfrombitinghis"benefactor's"hand.Thelasttotake
noticewasProf.ThoroldRogers(182390),expelledfromhisOxfordchairin1867forhavingdared
puttinghisfingeronlandgrabbing,therealcauseofBritish(andEuropean)poverty.

Apparentlyunconnectedsymptomspophereandtherethroughoutthecenturies.WhentheGerman
landlessspurredonbyLutherwereleaving100000casualtiesonthebattlefieldsofthePeasants'War,
massacredbytheirlandlords,theSpanishandPortugueselandlesswerecrossingtheAtlanticas
"conquistadores."Itdidn'ttakelongbeforetheychangedfromEuropeanlandlesstoAmerican
landlords.WhentheJesuitstriedtothwartthembyfoundingtheirReductions,thushinderingtheir
attemptatenslavingtheGuaranIndians,thelandlordsdeclaredwar,winningitinabouttwo
centuries.

TheFrenchnobles,calledtoParisbyLouisXIVtopreventanewFronde,livedcarefreeinthecapital,
pocketingtherentoflandleftinthecareofStatebureaucrats.Thesamephenomenonwastaking
placeatthesametimeinSicily,givingrisetotheMafia.Theruinsofthefeudalsystemservedas
seedbedsfortheweedoflandlordism.

Thelargeestate,whichhadbeentheruinofRomeinPliny'stime,[2]wasnowbecomingtheruinof
Christendom.InEuropeitwasserfdominAmerica,traditionalslaverybyimportingshiploadsof
AfricansboughtcheapontheWestcoastofthecontinent.TheslavetradecouldnotgototheOld
World,alreadyfulloflandless.Indeed,theBritishgovernmentusedtogetridof"surplus"population
bysystematicallydeportingpettycriminalstorecentlydiscoveredAustralia,withitsmillionsof
squaremileseasilygrabbedfromtheAborigines.

AtthetimewhenDonBosco(181588)wasgatheringhisurchinsinthestreetsofTurinwherethe

samepolicyhadthrownthem,theblightwaswreakinghavoconthepotatocropinIreland,theonly
resourcelefttoitslandless.EightmillionIrish,keptoutoftheirlandbyacoupleofahundred
landlords,werereducedtomixingturfandmarinealgaetomanufacturetheirownsoil,withwhichto
fillrockcrevicesleftthemforsubsistence.Thelandlordswentonexportingproduce,indifferent
beforehungerandmisery.Whodidnotstarvemigrated.Textbooksstill"explain"that
"overpopulation"didit.TheIrishandlatertheItalians,militarilyweak,wenttoenrichAmericaat
theircountries'expense.TheBritish,militarilystrongandchasedoutofAmericathreegenerations
earlier,foundtheiropportunityinAfrica.Theyenclosedallthelandtheycould.Thelocalshadto
workforthem,asanylandlessmusttosurvive.

Thesimilaritybetweenthetwoformsofslaverycamedramaticallytotheforeattheendofthe
AmericanCivilWar(186165).Theeconomicvictorswerethemilitarilyvanquishedplantocratsand
formerslaveowners.Topaywageswasmuchcheaperthantofeed,clothe,shelterandlookaftera
slave.

HenryGeorge(183997)

On27thJanuary1865,a26yearoldjoblessprinteraccostedawelldressedgentlemaninaSan
Franciscostreet,beggingfivedollars.
Whatdoyouwantthemfor?
Mywifehasjustgivenbirth,andIhavenothingtogivehertoeat.
Thestrangerproducedthefivedollars."Ifhehadnot,"theexprinterwouldrecallyearslater,"Ithink
thatIwasdesperateenoughtohavekilledhim."TheprinterwasHenryGeorge.Athisdeath,thisis
whatsaidofhim:
LeoTolstoy(18281910):PeopledonotarguewiththeteachingofGeorge,theysimplydonotknow
it.Anditisimpossibletodootherwisewithhisteaching,forhewhobecomesacquaintedwithit
cannotbutagree.
FrankLloydWright(18691959):HenryGeorgeshowedus...theonlyorganicsolutionoftheland
problem.
AlbertEinstein(18791955):MenlikeHenryGeorgearerare,unfortunately.Onecannotimaginea
morebeautifulcombinationofintellectualkeenness,artisticform,andferventloveofjustice.
HelenKeller(18801968):WhoreadsshallfindinHenryGeorge'sphilosophyararebeautyand
powerofinspiration,andasplendidfaithintheessentialnobilityofhumannature.
SunYatSen(18661925):TheteachingsofHenryGeorgewillbethebasisofourprogramofreform.
AldousHuxley(18941963):IfIwerenowtorewriteBraveNewWorld,Iwouldofferathird
alternative...thepossibilityofsanity...EconomicswouldbedecentralisedandHenryGeorgian.
Formoreinformationconsultwww.henrygeorge.organdlikesites.

Thedoctrine:ProgressandPoverty
HenryGeorgewasborninPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,intoadevoutEpiscopalianfamilywhosepiety
wouldmarkhimforlife.
Afterprimaryschoolhewentouttoseaasacabinboy,sailingacrossthePacifictoAustraliaand
India.Hisdiary,stillextant,showedhisbuddingwritingtalentinheritedfromhismother,aprimary
schoolteacher.
BackinPhiladelphiaheapprenticedhimselftoaprinter,butbecauseofunemploymenthemigratedto
SanFrancisco,atthepeakofgoldfeverin1849.Hehadnoluckasadigger.Twofailedattempts
broughthimhungerandvagrancy.
Hetriedhishandatprintingoncemore,butworkandunemploymentalternatedoutofcontrol.Young
Henrywaspowerlesstowardsgettingastable,wellpayingjob.
In1861hemetAnnieCorsinaFox,a17yearoldorphan,aCatholic.Duringanumpteentheconomic
crisis,brokeandjobless,heproposedtoher.Hedrewa50centcoinfromhispocket:
Annie,thisisallthemoneyIhaveintheworld.Willyoumarryme?"
Ifyouarereadytoundertaketheresponsibilities,Iwillmarryyou."
Afterashortperiodofprosperity,aneconomicdownturnsenttheprintshopintobankruptcytowards
theendof1864.Itwasdestitution,whichforcedhimtobegthefivedollarstogiveAnnieandtheir
twochildrensomethingtoeat.
Forquitesometimeaquestiontormentedhim:Whyarewagesalwayshigherinnewterritoriesthan
inoldones?Whydoprosperityandpovertynotonlyappeartogether,butalsothegapbetweenthem
everwidens?Whyischarity,publicorprivate,impotenttoeliminatesocialevilslikevagrancy,
begging,prostitution?
IfhehadseenprogressgrowsidebysidewithpovertyinSanFrancisco,hewouldseetheirmaturity
inNewYorkin1869,duringavainattemptatsubscribingtheSanFranciscoHeraldtoAssociated
Press.The"shockingcontrastbetweenmonstrouswealthanddebasingwant,"inhisownwords,led
him"toseekout,andremedyifIcould,thecausethatcondemnedlittlechildrentoleadsuchalife...
inthesqualiddistricts."Thequestbecameanobsession.
TheanswercametohimnotinNewYorkbutinSanFranciscoafewmonthslater.Duringaridein
thehillseastofthecity,hebrieflydismounted.Heaskedapasserby,justtoconverse,whattheprice
oflandwasaroundthere."Idon'tknow,"themanreplied,"butfurtherdownsomeone'sasking$1,000
foranacre."
Whatwashappening"furtherdown"foranacreoflandtobeworthafortuneintheCaliforniaof
1869?
Thetranscontinentalrailwaywasabouttoarrive.LandvaluesinthewholeOaklandregionwere
shootingskyhigh,asspeculatorsfoughttoassurepossessionoflandbeforethearrivalofthosewho
wouldneedittowork.
Georgeunderstood.Withtheincreaseinpopulation,landvaluesalsoincrease.Thosewhoneedit

mustpayfortheprivilegeofusingit.Butlandistheprimarysourceofallthatisneededforhuman
beingstolive.Ifthereissuchthingasauniversalrighttolife,theremustalsobeauniversalrightto
thegiftsofnaturenecessarytosustainlife.Badlawsallowingaprivilegedminoritytomonopolise
landedproperty,conferonthesameclassthepowertoexploitandoppresstherest.Allideological
debateaboutrepublicanism,democracy,socialism,communismetc.isbutidletalk.

Theremedysuggestsitself.Justicedemandsthatprivatepropertybeloadedwithasocialchargewith
whichtocoverpublicexpenditure.Letanyonewhooccupieslandpayindirectproportiontoquantity
andqualitysubtractedfromcommonnaturalresources.Andlethimrecoverpartofthatvalueinthe
formofpublicservices.Noonewouldthusbedeprivedofthefruitsofone'slabour,andtaxation
wouldnolongerfallonproduction.

TherewasnothingnewinHenryGeorge'svision.Hehadreachedthesameconclusionsashadthe
feudalists,Quesnay,andTurgot,whosewritingshewasunawareof.Hebegantogathermaterialand
towrite.

In1879,attheageof40,hefinishedthemanuscriptofProgressandPoverty.Ashehimselfwrote
yearslater,WhenIhadfinishedthelastpage,inthedeadofnight,whenIwasentirelyalone,Iflung
myselfonmykneesandweptlikeachild.TherestwasintheMaster'shands.[3]

Georgeknewhehadwrittenanimportantbook.HesentoneofthefirstcopiestohisfatherRichardin
Philadelphia:

IamgratefulthatIhavebeenabletolivetowriteit,andthatyouhavebeenabletoliveto
seeit...Itwillnotberecognisedatfirstmaybenotforsometimebutitwillultimately
beconsideredagreatbook...itwillbepublishedinbothhemispheresandwillbe
translatedintodifferentlanguages.ThisIknow,thoughneitherofusmayeverseeithere.
[4]
Allthepropheciescametrue.By1905ProgressandPovertyhadsoldtwomillioncopies.By1920it
hadbeentranslatedinto24languages.IthassoldmorethanallofMarx'sworksputtogether,andis
stillinprint.[5]Weshallseewhyitcontinuestobebannedfromallthefacultiesofeconomics.
Themeritofthebookistohavetouchedarawnerve:howtoturnlandownershipfromaninstrument
ofoppressionintooneofsolidarityandsocialpeace.

Thirdparadigm

AcarefulreaderwillprobablyhavereachedtheconclusionthatGeorgismtranscendscapitalistand
Marxistplatitudes.InGeorge'sownwords,
Thesocialistmistakeconsistsinlookingoncapitalandlabourasthetwofactorsof
productionandasthetwopartiestothedivisionoftheproduce.Asamatteroffact,there
areinourhighlydevelopedindustrialsystemthreepartiesofproduction,andalwaysa
fourth,andgenerallyafifthrelatingtodistribution.InadditiontoA,theemploying
capitalist,andB,theemployedlabourer,thereareCthelandowner,Dthetaxcollector,
andgenerallyE,therepresentativeofmonopoliesotherthanthatofland.WhatAandB
candividebetweenthemisnottheproductoftheirjointefforts,buttheproductthatC,D,

andEleavetothem.6Marxismmustofnecessityproposearemedyasdefectiveasits
diagnosis.Ifcapitalandlabouraretheonlytwofactorsofproduction,landmustbe
assimilatedtothefirst,andthereforenationalisedtogetherwithallthemeansof
production.Theresultisthateverybodyislandless,andallareforcedtoworkforthe
State,thesolelandlord.Inthesametermsemployedabove,C,DandEcoalesceintothe
MolochsocialistState,whosebankruptcythelast70yearsofthe20thcenturyhave
provedinnouncertainterms.GeorgismproposedtodiverttheattentionoftaxcollectorD
fromthefruitsofAandB'sexertionstowardsthefruitsofnonlabouroflandlordCand
parasiteE.Result:noonewouldfinditprofitabletobelandlordCormonopolistE
withoutatthesametimebeingeithercapitalistA,orlabourerB,orboth.Inotherwords,
allwouldenjoy100%oftheirfruitsoflabour,plusthefruitsofthesocialchargespenton
publicservices.SocialsecuritywouldnolongerneedtoberunbyStatemachinery,for
everyonewouldhaveanincomesufficienttomeetthecostsofeducation,healthandthe
rest.Bureaucracywouldbedeflatedtoabearableminimumoftheextenttowhich
capitalismorMarxismhaveinflatedit...Igonofurther.Letthereaderworkoutthe
practicalconsequencesthatarestoredsocialchargeonprivatepropertywouldentail.

Misunderstandings

InvitedbytheIrishNationalLandLeague,strugglingatthetimefortheeliminationoftheunjust
exploitationoftenantsbyabsenteelandlordslivingitoffinParis,LondonandotherEuropean
capitals,GeorgeresidedinIrelandduringayearascorrespondentofTheIrishWorldofNewYork.
HewasstrucktofindthatthebishopsofClonfertandMeathhadreachedthesameconclusionas
ProgressandPoverty.TherestoftheIrishepiscopatewasofthecontraryopinion,supportingtothe
hiltmonopolisticlandedpropertywithoutsocialcommitments.
120yearslateronecanseealargeproblemofmisunderstanding.Georgetalkedintermsof
"confiscationofrent,"soundingdangerouslysimilartothe"confiscationofprivateproperty"
recommendedbytheMarxists,whowerebeginningtoattractattention.Themisunderstanding
provokedacrisisstilltodayatthebasisofthepracticalfailureofthesocialdoctrineofthe
Magisterium.

DrMcGlynn
BackinAmericainthefallof1882,inthewakeofhundredsofspeechesandconferences,Henry
Georgehadanotherpleasantsurprise:hisdoctrineswereopenlybeingcanvassedbyDrEdward
McGlynn,parishpriestofStStephen'sinNewYork.TwoyearsHenryGeorge'ssenior,hehadbeen
ordainedpriestinStJohnLateranin1860.ProgressandPovertyhadsostruckhimastoturnhiminto
anindefatigableGeorgist.Hisfieryspeecheshadconvincedthousandsofpeople.
DrMichaelAugustineCorriganwasatthetime(third)ArchbishopofNewYork,helpedbyhisVicar
GeneralMsgrThomasPreston.Americawasstillmissioncountry,itsecclesiasticalaffairsbeing
conductedbyPropagandainRome.CorriganandMcGlynn,formerclassmatesinRome,weresoon
oncollisioncourse.
30thousandsignaturesgatheredbyGeorge'sfriendshadgivenhimthemandateforhiscandidacyas

MayorofNewYorkinthe1886elections.McGlynnintroducedhimtoArchbishopCorrigan.Invain
didGeorgepresenthimwithcopiesofallhisbooks,andinvaindidhementionthattheIrishbishops
ofClonfertandMeathconcurredwithhisviews.Corrigannotonlyabsolutelyrefusedtolisten,but
alsosuspendedMcGlynnforsupportingGeorge.TheciviccandidateofTammanyHall,Abram
Hewitt,wassoterrifiedatapossibletriumphofGeorgetoaskArchbishopCorriganforsupport.
CorrigancondemnedGeorgismas"erroneous,dangerousandcontrarytotheteachingsofthe
Church."AtthesametimehesolicitedRometohaveMcGlynnexcommunicatedandProgressand
PovertyplacedontheIndexofForbiddenBooks.

Corruption,intimidationandfraudulentcountingconspiredtobringaboutHewitt'svictoryover
Georgeby90thousandto60thousandvotes.On14thJanuary1887CardinalSimeoniofPropaganda
requestedMcGlynnpubliclytoretractGeorge'stheoriesandtogotoRome.McGlynnrefused,
alleginghealthreasons.Itwastrue,butthebasicreasonfortherefusalwastheabsenceofspecific
charges,aswellasofacanonicaltrialjustifyingtheepiscopaldecreeofsuspension.CardinalGibbons
ofBaltimore,favourabletoGeorge,wasinRomeatthetime.HeconvincedtheVaticannottoplace
ProgressandPovertyontheIndex.

Thingsprecipitated.On4thJuly1887,ontheexpiryofthe40daysofgrace,McGlynnwas
excommunicated,sotoremainforfiveyears.Suchcondition,howeverpainful,madeitpossiblefor
himtodenouncecertainabusesofecclesiasticalpowerthatasacommunicantpriesthecouldnot
have.ThemostglamorouswasthedenialofChristianburialtoJohnMcGuire,alabourerwhohad
diedofheartattackatthemeetingsoftheAntiPovertySocietyof17thFebruary1887.Fortwoyears
thedeceased'sbrother,intheabsenceofecclesiasticaltribunals,hadpursuedthecaseallthewayupto
theSupremeCourt,butsecularjusticehaddeclareditselfincompetenttojudgethecase.

ButwhenPrinceRudolfofAbsburg,whohaddiedsuicideatMayerlinginFebruary1889,was
grantedareligiousfuneralwithfullpomp,McGlynnmadeapreferentialoptionforthepoor:

JohnMcGuireisdeniedChristianburial!Why?BecauseJohnMcGuiredied,notbyhisownhand,but
bythehandofGod,inoneofthemeetingsoftheAntiPovertySociety...PrinceRudolfwasthesonof
theEmperor,andJohnMcGuirewasapoorworkingman.SotheVicarGeneralfeltthathecould
withoutmuchdangerofoffendinganypowerfulfactionnay,withtheirapplausedenyChristian
burialtoJohnMcGuire...Withtheceaseddutiesofoffice,McGlynnwasalsoabletoabsolvethe
painfulbutnecessaryfunctionoflookingafterhissister'sfouryoungchildrenorphanedbythesudden
deathofbothparentsinamatterofweeks.

"YourHoliness:"OpenletterbyHenryGeorgetoPopeLeoXIII

TheencyclicalRerumNovarumsawthelightinMay1891,whileHenryGeorgewasbusycompiling
hismagnumopusTheScienceofPoliticalEconomy.Spottinginthedocumentacondemnationofhis
doctrines,Georgestoppedatonce(theworkwouldremainunfinished)towriteanopenletterofmore
than100pagestoLeoXIII.Theopeningsentencereads:
YourHoliness:IhavereadwithcareyourEncyclicalletterontheconditionoflabour
Sinceitsmoststrikinglypronouncedcondemnationsaredirectedagainstatheorythatwe
whoholditknowtobedeservingofyoursupport,IaskpermissiontolaybeforeYour
Holinessthegroundsofourbelief,andtosetforthsomeconsiderationsthatYouhave
unfortunatelyoverlooked.

Comparingthetwodoctrines,onecannothelpnoticingthatLeoXIII'sarguesagainstsocialisminthe
latter'stermsandstrategy,i.e.consideringcapitalandlabourasthesolefactorsofproductionand
distribution.Itfollowsthattheremediesproposedintheencyclicalcannotgobeyondrecommending
ChristiancharitybetweencapitalistAandlabourerB,plusacertainamountofStateinterventionto
regulatepossibleabuses.TheunjustprivilegesoflandlordCandmonopolistEremainintact,sothat
taxcollectorDcannotbutgoonvexingAandB.Georgedidnothesitateinbaringtheconsequences
ofthisomission:

Christianity'sgoldenruleisthatweshoulddotoothersaswewouldhaveothersdotous.
Butoutofthesystemoftaxingtheproductsandprocessesoflabour,andoutofitseffects
inincreasingthepriceofwhatsomehavetosellandothersmustbuy,hasgrownthe
theoryof"protection,"which...sanctifiesnationalhatredsitinculcatesauniversalwarof
hostiletariffsitteachespeoplesthattheirprosperityliesinimposingontheproductionof
otherpeoplesrestrictionstheydonotwishimposedontheirownandinsteadofthe
Christiandoctrineofman'sbrotherhooditmakesinjuryofforeignersacivicvirtue.Itwas
thepolicythatwouldexplodeinthecarnageoftheGreatWar.
Whenavocationrequiresspecialtrainingorskill,orismadedifficultofaccessby
artificialrestrictions,thecheckingofcompetitiontendstokeepwagesinitatahigher
level.Butastheprogressofinventiondispenseswithpeculiarskill,orartificial
restrictionsarebrokendown,thesehigherwagessinktotheordinarylevel.
Globalisationisdoingjustthatbeforeourveryeyes,especiallybyexportingindustrial
plantfromhighwagetolowwagecountrieslikeChina.
Intellectualadvanceandmaterialadvancerequirecorrespondingmoraladvance.
Knowledgeandpowerareneithergoodnorevil.Theyarenotendsbutmeansevolving
forcesthatifnotcontrolledinorderlyrelationsmusttakedisorderlyanddestructive
forms...swifterandmoreterriblethanthosethathaveshatteredeverypreceding
civilisation.Nocomment.
YourEncyclicalgivesthegospeltolabourersandtheearthtothelandlords.Isitreallyto
bewonderedatthattherearethosewhosneeringlysay,"Thepriestsarereadyenoughto
givethepooranequalshareinallthatisoutofsight,buttheytakepreciousgoodcare
thattherichshallkeepatightgriponallthatiswithinsight"?Hereinisthereasonwhy
theworkingmassesallovertheworldareturningawayfromorganisedreligion.
Itwasbyadeepimpulsethatofoldwhenthreatenedandperplexedbygeneraldisaster
mencametotheoraclestoask,Inwhathaveweoffendedthegods?Today,menacedby
growingevilsthatthreatentheveryexistenceofsociety,men,consciousthatsomething
iswrong,areputtingthesamequestiontotheministersofreligion.Whatistheanswer
theyget?Alas,withfewexceptions,itisasvague,asinadequate,astheanswersthatused
tocomefromheathenoracles.
ThetoneoftheletterisevidentlynotthatofaCatholic,butGeorgemanagedtouniteseveritytoan
uncommonrespect.Heconcluded:
ServantoftheServantsofGod!Icallyoubythestrongestandsweetestofyourtitles...
wishingforyouthedaysandthestrengththatmay...makeyourpontificatethroughall
comingtimemostgloriousandwiththeprofoundrespectduetoyourpersonalcharacter
andtoyourexaltedoffice,Iam,Yourssincerely,HENRYGEORGENewYork,

September11,1891
Eventhisclosingsentencewasprophetic.LeoXIIIsurvivedGeorgebysixyearsandMcGlynnby
three.Thepopewashandedacopyoftheletter,translatedintoItalianandrichlybound,fromthe
PrefectoftheVaticanLibrary.Hedidnotreply,butacted.ItwasevidentthatVaticanremotecontrol
oftheecclesiasticalaffairsoftheUnitedStateswasthefirstanachronismandanomalytosetright.
Archbishop(latercardinal)SatolliarrivedinAmericain1892,withinstructionstoremainthereas
firstApostolicDelegateandtosortoutallthepossibledifferencesbetweenbishopsandclergy,
startingwiththeMcGlynncase.
SatolliconvokedMcGlynntotheCatholicUniversityinWashington.Acommissionofexperts,
excludingfriendsandsympathisersoftheexcommunicatedpriest,askedMcGlynntodraftawritten
summary,asconciseaspossible,ofGeorgistdoctrine.Theyfounditexemptfromerrorandreinstated
McGlynn.ByChristmashehadthegreatjoyofbeingabletorecelebrateMass.Hediedasparish
priestofNewburghon7thJanuary1900.Georgehadgonetohisgraveaheadofhim,cutdownbya
heartattackfourdaysaheadoftheelectionsof1997.

MarxdefraudsGeorgeofthe20thCentury

WhatwouldhavebeenaGeorgist20thcenturyinsteadofoneimbuedwiththedoctrinesofthe
"princeofmuddleheads"asGeorgedubbedMarx?Weshallneverknow.Whatcannotbedeniedisthe
resoundingfailureofalleconomicdoctrinesthatinvainseekforthesolutionsofthesocialquestion
byputtingthefingernotonthesorebutonotherfeaturesofthewoundedbody.
Aboutthecorruptionofeconomicsfrom1900todatethereistheexcellentbookbyProfsMason
GaffneyandFredHarrison.[7]SeriousstudentsofcurrentaffairsknowwellthattheAmericanmasses
arenotsocialist,butconservatives.U.S.billionairestendtobesocialistandcollectivist,themore,the
moremoneytheyhave.Marxistheprevailingoracleinthemostimportantuniversitiesofthecountry.
InGreatBritaintheLondonSchoolofEconomics,foundedbytheWebbsinthe1930s,hastheprecise
aimofspreadingthegospelofFabiansocialism.AlmostallThirdWorldleaderseducatedinEnglish
speakinguniversitiesareMarxists,eitherinname,orinfact,orboth.
WhatdoesMarxismhavetooffer?Power.Seekingpower,andhavingmoneytobuyitwith,allone
hastodoistocapturethecentresofintellectualformation,whichiswhatuniversityfoundersdidat
thebeginningofthe20thcentury.That'swhytothequestion,"HaveyoueverheardofHenry
George?"everystudentofeconomicsanswersinthenegative.
WhenitisnotMarxism,thereigningparadigmintheeconomicsteachingisneoclassicism.Itteaches
thatlandlordC,capitalistAandmonopolistEareoneandthesameperson.OnlytaxcollectorDis
allowedtovexindependentlyworkerBandcapitalist(nonlandlord)A.ThedifferencewithMarxism
isnotthatgreat.

21stCenturyonthemarch
Moderneconomicsrightlyincludes,inthedefinitionofland,allthenaturalresourcesuncoveredby
19thand20thcenturytechnology.Beginningwiththeelectromagneticspectrum,onecangoonwith

thecapacityoftheenvironmentforabsorbingpollutingsubstances,theextractionofthevariousforms
ofenergy,airandcosmicspacebeyondearthandwater,etc.Ifthosewhomakeuseofsuchresources
weretopayasocialchargeforvaluesubtractedfromthem,tobeusedaspublicrevenueforpublic
services,thegainsduetotheirexertionswouldstay100%intheirpockets.Andreformwouldbetrue
andpermanent,thusputtinganendtoacenturyoldanomalycauseofsomanyevils.

Theotherplague

Iflandmonopolyhasbeen,andcontinuestobe,instrumentofoppressionandexploitation,money
monopoly,orusury,isnotfarbehind.DeathcaughtupwithGeorgebeforehecoulddevelophis
thoughtintheunfinishedworkonpoliticaleconomy.Theonewhoputhisfingeronthisothersore,
andasradically(i.e.ignoringwhoshouldcontrolmoney,butpayingattentiontomoneyassuch)was
SilvioGesell(18621930),whowillbetheobjectofanotherarticle.

NOTES

1.Donations,grantsandpurchasesgavecontroltomonasteries,diocesesandthepapacyoververylargestretchesof
land,therentthereofgoingtosocialsecuritybutalsotobeneficesgreatandsmall.
2.LatifundiaperdidereItaliaminhisownwords.Theslavesnecessaryfortheircultivationwerenotreadytorisk
theirlivestodefendalandnottheirown.
3.LettertoFrThomasDawson,1stFeb.1883.
4.LettertoRichardGeorge,15thSep1879.
5.TheSchalkenbachFoundation,N.Y.,keepsallofH.G.sworksinprint.
6.TheStandard,May14th1887.
7.TheCorruptionofEconomics.ShepheardWalwyn(Publishers)Ltd.London1994.