EARTH RIGHTS INSTITUTEEARTH RIGHTS INSTITUTEwww.earthrights.netwww.earthrights.net

Alanna HartzokAlanna HartzokAlanna@earthrights.netAlanna@earthrights.net

717-264-0957717-264-0957

Earth Rights DemocracyEarth Rights Democracy

►Addresses Wealth Gap at SourceAddresses Wealth Gap at Source►Affordable Land / HousingAffordable Land / Housing►Mitigates Boom/Bust CycleMitigates Boom/Bust Cycle►Better HealthBetter Health►Eco-IncentivesEco-Incentives►Land/Resource Conflict Resolution Land/Resource Conflict Resolution

Tool Tool ►Military Budgets < Peace DividendMilitary Budgets < Peace Dividend

PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF.

LEV. XXV X.

The phrase "The Liberty Bell" appeared in The Anti-Slavery Record, Vol.1, No. 2, published by R.G. Williams, for the American Anti-Slavery Society, in February 1835. The phrase is used on page 23 of the publication and reads as follows:

May not the emancipationists in Philadelphia, hope to live to hear the same bell rung, when liberty shall in fact be proclaimed to all the inhabitants of this favored land? Hitherto, the bell has not obeyed the inscription; and its peals have been a mockery, while one sixth of "all inhabitants" are in abject slavery."

Thomas Paine, Agrarian Justice 1797

“Men did not make the earth...it is the value of the improvements only, and not the earth itself, that is individual property...Every proprietor owes to the community a ground rent for the land which he holds.;...from this ground rent...I...propose to create a national fund, out of which there shall be paid to every person...a sum.”

Earth Rights Tax PolicyEarth Rights Tax Policy

Pay for what you take (from Pay for what you take (from the earth, the commons) not the earth, the commons) not

what you make (with your what you make (with your labor, efforts.)labor, efforts.)

Tax Land Not Labor!Tax Land Not Labor!

Privatize Wages / Socialize Privatize Wages / Socialize RentRent

Pay for Where you ParkPay for Where you Park

Private Title to the Commons Private Title to the Commons of Land and Natural Resources of Land and Natural Resources

Conditional on Payment of Conditional on Payment of Use Fee Use Fee

BIG from Resource Rent:BIG from Resource Rent:

(1) Addresses Wealth (1) Addresses Wealth GapGap

at Sourceat Source

                                                                                

Total Net Worth in U.S.: $42.3892 trillion ($42,389,200,000,000) Source: Arthur B. Kennickell, "A Rolling Tide: Changes in the Distribution of Wealth in the U.S., 1989-2001," Table 10. (Levy Economics Institute: November, 2003)

Source: Edward N. Wolff, "Recent Trends in Wealth Ownership, 1983-1998," Levy Institute Working Paper No. 300, Table 3. (Levy Economics Institute: April, 2000)

Source: Edward N. Wolff, "Recent Trends in Wealth Ownership, 1983-1998," Levy Institute Working Paper No. 300,

Table 6. (Levy Economics Institute: April, 2000)

Bubble Trouble by Dean Baker,Bubble Trouble by Dean Baker,dollars & sense, dollars & sense, NO. 257/2005NO. 257/2005

► Since 1995 Since 1995 housing housing prices have prices have risen risen nationwide nationwide by almost by almost 35%. 35%.

► In some In some regions, regions, real home real home prices have prices have risen by risen by more than more than 50%.50%.

23% of all American houses bought in 2004 were for investment, not owner-occupation. Another 13% were bought as second homes.

The Economist

The predictability of the The predictability of the "law of rent""law of rent" - that land - that land values will continually values will continually rise, and faster than rise, and faster than

wages - fuels frenzies of wages - fuels frenzies of land speculation and land speculation and

the inevitable bust that the inevitable bust that follows the boom.follows the boom.

According to an Associated According to an Associated Press report, sales dropped by Press report, sales dropped by "22% in the West, the biggest "22% in the West, the biggest

decline in the region since decline in the region since February 1995." February 1995."

(2) Affordable Land / Housing(2) Affordable Land / Housing

Decreasing Taxes on Labor Increases Decreasing Taxes on Labor Increases Purchasing CapacityPurchasing Capacity

Social Capture of Resource Rent Social Capture of Resource Rent Removes Private Profit Incentives Removes Private Profit Incentives

(curbs land speculation) thus (curbs land speculation) thus (3)(3) NO BOOM/BUST BUBBLENO BOOM/BUST BUBBLE thus thus Maintains Land Affordability for Maintains Land Affordability for Housing and Other Basic Needs.Housing and Other Basic Needs.

(4) Better Health(4) Better Health

OUR GREATEST HEALTH HAZARDOUR GREATEST HEALTH HAZARD is the economic "gap" between the is the economic "gap" between the

rich and the poor. With rich and the poor. With greater greater economic inequalityeconomic inequality comes comes worse worse healthhealth — lower life expectancy and — lower life expectancy and

higher mortality rates. higher mortality rates.

The U.S. spends the most money on The U.S. spends the most money on health care, but ties for 29th place in health care, but ties for 29th place in

life expectancy. life expectancy.

(from UNDP Human Development Report)

(5) Ecological Incentives (5) Ecological Incentives

Current Pacific NW Tax Current Pacific NW Tax StructureStructure

Earth Rights Tax Shift ProposedEarth Rights Tax Shift Proposed for Pacific NW for Pacific NW

Current and ProposedCurrent and ProposedTax Shift for Pacific NorthwestTax Shift for Pacific Northwest

Military ExpendituresMilitary Expenditures

US Military BudgetUS Military Budget

►1950: $13B1950: $13B►1952: $44B1952: $44B►1998: $265B1998: $265B►2004: $399B2004: $399B►2005: $500B2005: $500B

(6) Social Capture of (6) Social Capture of Ground Rent is a Conflict Ground Rent is a Conflict

Resolution Tool for Resolution Tool for Resource WarsResource Wars

Out of war nations acquire Out of war nations acquire additional territory, if they are additional territory, if they are

victorious. They just take it. This victorious. They just take it. This newly acquired territory promptly newly acquired territory promptly

is exploited by the few - the is exploited by the few - the selfsame few who wrung dollars selfsame few who wrung dollars

out of blood in the war. The out of blood in the war. The general public shoulders the bill… general public shoulders the bill…

Newly placed gravestones. Newly placed gravestones. Mangled bodies. Shattered minds. Mangled bodies. Shattered minds.

Broken hearts and homes. Broken hearts and homes. Economic instability. Depression Economic instability. Depression

and all its attendant miseries. and all its attendant miseries. Back-breaking taxation for Back-breaking taxation for

generations and generations.generations and generations.- Major General Smedley Butler- Major General Smedley Butler

Conquest of the AmazonConquest of the Amazon – – Corporate powers, working in Corporate powers, working in

part through missionary groups part through missionary groups first to gain control of first to gain control of

indigenous societies and then indigenous societies and then to gain control of their landto gain control of their land, ,

had been behind these had been behind these destabilizations and genocides destabilizations and genocides throughout the 20throughout the 20thth century. century.

(See Thy Will Be Done: The Conquest of the Amazon: Nelson (See Thy Will Be Done: The Conquest of the Amazon: Nelson Rockefeller and Evangelism in the Age of Oil)Rockefeller and Evangelism in the Age of Oil)

IndonesiaIndonesia – – Rich in oil and Rich in oil and other resourcesother resources, was , was

establishing an honest establishing an honest democracy… democracy… The CIA overthrew The CIA overthrew SukarnoSukarno, installed Suharto, and , installed Suharto, and following “strategies-of-tension” following “strategies-of-tension”

the suppression of freedom the suppression of freedom resulted in slaughter of 800,000 resulted in slaughter of 800,000

people by the CIA’s own people by the CIA’s own estimate.estimate.

GuatamalaGuatamala – – In 1951, knowing In 1951, knowing that foreign-owned land had been that foreign-owned land had been obtained under unfair conditions, obtained under unfair conditions, President Arbenz started the legal President Arbenz started the legal

process of reclaiming several process of reclaiming several hundred thousand acres of idle hundred thousand acres of idle

landland from United Fruit Company. from United Fruit Company. CIA launched propaganda CIA launched propaganda

campaign that Arbenz was a campaign that Arbenz was a Communist. Communist. Arbenz was Arbenz was

overthrownoverthrown, 200,000 were killed., 200,000 were killed.

Whose Planet are we living Whose Planet are we living on?on?

►Every inch of our planet is now owned Every inch of our planet is now owned by some person or organization. by some person or organization.

►The majority population (60% to 90%) The majority population (60% to 90%) in EVERY inhabited country are landless in EVERY inhabited country are landless - own no part of the planet whatsoever, - own no part of the planet whatsoever, not even their own homes. not even their own homes.

►The richest 5% in every nation, rich and The richest 5% in every nation, rich and poor, North and South, East and West, poor, North and South, East and West, now own between 70% and 95% of now own between 70% and 95% of their own countries. their own countries.

ChileChile – – SalvadoreSalvadore Allende was Allende was freely elected in 1972 on a platform freely elected in 1972 on a platform of control of Chilean resources for of control of Chilean resources for

Chileans.Chileans. Chile was embargoed and Chile was embargoed and the CIA and America’s military, the CIA and America’s military, primarily the Navy, and Chilean primarily the Navy, and Chilean military personnel trained at the military personnel trained at the

School of the Americas (now in Fort School of the Americas (now in Fort Benning, Georgia) coordinated Benning, Georgia) coordinated plans for plans for Allende’s overthrow. Allende’s overthrow.

Pinochet put in power.Pinochet put in power.

CongoCongo – The CIA with support – The CIA with support from Belgium destabilized the from Belgium destabilized the Congo and assassinated the Congo and assassinated the popular Patrice Lumumba. popular Patrice Lumumba. Control still could not be Control still could not be

assured so assured so Zaire was created to Zaire was created to remove those rich copper remove those rich copper

deposits from the deposits from the uncontrollable Congolese and uncontrollable Congolese and

Joseph Mobutu was installed as Joseph Mobutu was installed as the Belgian/American puppetthe Belgian/American puppet. .

Earth OwnershipEarth Ownership

► 95% of the USA is owned by the richest 3% of 95% of the USA is owned by the richest 3% of Americans Americans

► 60% of El Salvador is owned by the richest 60% of El Salvador is owned by the richest 2% of El Salvadorians 2% of El Salvadorians

► 86% of South Africa is owned by the white 86% of South Africa is owned by the white minority minority

► 74% of United Kingdom is owned by the 74% of United Kingdom is owned by the richest 2% of Britons richest 2% of Britons

► 84% of Scotland is owned by the richest 7% 84% of Scotland is owned by the richest 7% of Scots of Scots

These latter day pharaohs, These latter day pharaohs, the planet owners, the the planet owners, the richest 5% - allow the rest of richest 5% - allow the rest of us to pay day after day for us to pay day after day for the right to live on their the right to live on their planet.planet. And as we make them And as we make them richer, they buy yet more of the richer, they buy yet more of the planet for themselves, and use planet for themselves, and use their wealth and power to fight their wealth and power to fight amongst themselves over what amongst themselves over what each possesses ~ though of each possesses ~ though of course it's course it's actually us who actually us who have to fight and die in their have to fight and die in their wars.wars.

Collectors of the Collectors of the Privilege FundPrivilege Fund invest in land and resources in invest in land and resources in “underdeveloped” countries.“underdeveloped” countries.

To quell protests, investors call To quell protests, investors call for military intervention.for military intervention.

(7)(7) Transforming the Privilege FundTransforming the Privilege Fund (Reduce Military Budget/Peace Dividend)(Reduce Military Budget/Peace Dividend)

►The Privilege Fund is equitably returned The Privilege Fund is equitably returned to society by public collection of land to society by public collection of land and resource rents.and resource rents.

►Workers, with their just economic Workers, with their just economic opportunities restored, can now opportunities restored, can now accumulate capital through their own accumulate capital through their own savings.savings.

►Economic Justice, abundance and Economic Justice, abundance and peace restored.peace restored.

Triple Dip Plus Triple Dip Plus Multiple Benefits of BIG from Resource Multiple Benefits of BIG from Resource

RentRent

►Addresses Wealth Gap at SourceAddresses Wealth Gap at Source►Affordable Land / HousingAffordable Land / Housing►Mitigates Boom/Bust CycleMitigates Boom/Bust Cycle►Better HealthBetter Health►Eco-IncentivesEco-Incentives►Land/Resource Conflict Resolution Land/Resource Conflict Resolution

Tool Tool ►Military Budget < Peace DividendMilitary Budget < Peace Dividend

Solving the land question Solving the land question means the solving of all means the solving of all

social questions. social questions.

- Leo Tolstoy- Leo Tolstoy

Land is not created by Land is not created by people – it creates people. people – it creates people.

Land is lifeLand is life..

EARTH RIGHTS INSTITUTEEARTH RIGHTS INSTITUTEwww.earthrights.netwww.earthrights.net

Alanna HartzokAlanna HartzokAlanna@earthrights.netAlanna@earthrights.net

717-264-0957717-264-0957