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.
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