Mr. George thus describes his “taxing-out scheme” at p. 288 of Progress and Poverty:
“I do not propose either to purchase or to confiscate private property in land. The first would be unjust; the second needless. Let the individuals who now hold it still retain, if they want to, possession of what they are pleased to call their land. Let them continue to call it their land. Let them buy and sell, bequeath and devise it. We may safely leave them the shell if we take the kernel. It is not necessary to confiscate land, it is only necessary to confiscate rent.”
In regard to the “George scheme,” the whole point is whether there is any special justification for confiscating an income derived from land as compared with other incomes.
The State Purchase Scheme
The object of the “Land Nationalization Society’s scheme” as published is “to establish public ownership of land by means of fair compensation based on its value as ascertained for purposes of taxation.” It is insisted that the State should take possession of agricultural land first and of house property at a later period.
Public ownership, it is claimed, will secure:
(1) That the use of land will be easily obtainable by all classes of the community without being subject to the veto of any landowner.
(2) That the best possible conditions of tenancy will be established so that all State tenants will have the same security as freeholders have to-day and full right to the value of the improvements they make.
(3) That the community will be able to determine in the general interests of all to what uses the land shall be put.
(4) That ultimately the whole value of the land will be secured for the common good.