This phrase comes from an Anglican prayer book, but it came to my mind when I was writing to a foundation which claims to be in favor of a just society. Examining their website, I could see no sign of any familiarity with Henry George’s ideas, and this phrase, whose origins I could not bring to mind, popped into my head.

Hear …, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest … The reference is to scripture, but I think it might apply nearly as well to Henry George’s ideas, if you regard any of these as important:

  • ending poverty
  • improving wages
  • sharing nature’s bounty more evenly among us
  • protecting the environment from despoilment
  • reducing, even reversing, sprawl
  • making housing affordable
  • making cities more vibrant
  • creating jobs
  • making effective public transportation systems realistic

(I’d be happy to see any one of those … and thrilled to see all of them. Dayenu!)

Well, Henry George has been called “The Prophet of San Francisco” – that’s where he wrote Progress & Poverty – and many people consider him to have answers to problems that most people think are completely intractable.

Hear, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest … and then get to work creating a more just society, for yourself, your neighbors, and all our children and future generations.