Progress and Poverty: Chapter 23: The Persistence of Poverty Despite Increasing Wealth
Channel: LibertyInJustice1
Date: 09/05/2012

Chapter 23 of Progress and Poverty, the seminal treatise on political economy by legendary 19th century American author Henry George.

George, who would later run for Mayor of New York City, advocated a single tax on land and natural resources as a replacement for all other taxes, which he viewed as having a distorting effect on the economy.  He inspired the Single Tax movement, which continued to champion his reforms after his death and established Single Tax colonies across the United States.  His ideas influenced Leo Tolstoy, Sun Yat-sen, George Bernard Shaw, John Dewey, and the creator of the popular board game "Monopoly."

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Key quotes from Chapter 23:

"As productive power increases, rent tends to increase even more -- constantly forcing down wages."

"Land is required for the exertion of labor in the production of wealth. Therefore, to control the land is to command all the fruits of labor, except only enough to enable labor to continue to exist."

"The great cause of inequality in the distribution of wealth is inequality in the ownership of land."

"Hence, when land is monopolized, progress might go on to infinity without increasing wages or improving the condition of those who have only their labor. It can only add to the value of land and the power its possession gives.

Everywhere, in all times, among all peoples, possession of land is the base of aristocracy, the foundation of great fortunes, the source of power. As the Brahmins said, ages ago:

'To whomsoever the soil at any time belongs, to him belong the fruits of it. White parasols and elephants mad with pride are the flowers of a grant of land.'"