“The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand how technology is affecting children and society.”

Hmmm.

I wonder when someone in a decision-making capacity within the MacArthur Foundation will take the time to read the writings of Henry George and of contemporary Georgists – say, Mason Gaffney, Fred Foldvary, Nic Tideman, Walter Rybeck – and then figure out how best to promote George’s ideas.

Every time I hear a MacArthur reference on my local NPR station – and they’ve been very frequent this week – I wish there was a way to reach this potentially valuable group of decision-makers.

What would I ask them to read?

  1. A few of Henry George’s speeches – say, “The Crime of Poverty” and “Thou Shalt Not Steal.”

  2. The essays in George’s book of essays, “Social Problems” – in any order!

  3. Mason Gaffney’s writings, including

  1. Fred Foldvary’s writings, including

  1. Nic Tideman’s Peace, Justice and Economic Reform

  2. Walter Rybeck’s Re-solving the Economic Puzzle

  3. Henry George’s landmark book, Progress and Poverty, either in a modern abridgment or the unabridged.

But maybe what the foundation wants is simply a more just, verdant and peaceful world – without challenging any special interests – in which case the emphasis is on “more” rather than “just, verdant and peaceful.” Let’s hope that they’re serious about “Just, Verdant and Peaceful,” and will explore the ideas of Henry George, which seem to me to be not only the direct route, but the only route.