Capitalism and Crime – Profits, Public Good and the Henry George Tradition
In this seminar, Professor and social reform advocate, James Palombo takes aim at the transformation of our criminal justice into a vast rent seeking enterprise where the profit motive has displaced necessary social adjustment as the main driver of public policy. According to Pr. Palombo, these flaws are not isolated, they are a reflection of bigger dysfunctions in our socio-economic system that incapacitates those at the margins of productivity while shrouding our actual ideological shortcomings.
Pr. Palombo proposes a Georgist inspired reform that would reinstate the State in its role as procurer of justice and a balanced approach to correction that emphasizes the importance of education and health care. Such a reform would highlight the links between a properly functioning criminal justice system and an economy that is built around the very idea of justice.
James Palombo’s previous book, Criminal to Critic-Reflections Amid The American Experiment, relays his transition from drug-dealing wise guy and convict to social worker, professor, world traveler and public policy advocate. He brings these experiences to HGSSS via his continuing interest in education and the improvement of civic life.
Location: Henry George School of Social Science, 149 East 38th Street (Between Lexington & 3rd Avenue) New York, NY 10016
Date: Wednesday, September 5 , 2018
Time: 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
