Seizing the Time!, the title of Mitchel Cohen’s essay in the May 12 issue of Counterpunch, contains excerpts from his book, What is Direct Action: Lessons from and to Occupy Wall Street, embedded in his reflections on Marx and left culture. Cohen is Coordinator of the No Spray Coalition in New York City, author of a great book on Monsanto, and a lifelong leading left activator.
He begins his essay by saying:
Timothy Leary publicized “Turn on, tune in, and drop out”. The “trick” for radicals, though, is to learn how to “unask, reframe, and direct act.” Too often, we forget that time is needed to be in a position mentally to engage in that endeavor, and in neglecting that step we sabotage our own efforts.
Cohen tells us that there must be space and time for people to:
… develop and experience the freedom that can erupt from communities established in response to the volcanic contradictions of capitalism, and which throw us all into motion of one sort or another. Those experiences allow us to develop the creativity, security and emotional flexibility to sidestep or overcome the fears conditioned into us.
After further reflections about taking time to “reframe” as important for revolutionary movement people to do Cohen says:
That’s why I, a dyed-in-the-wool radical Leftist and ecological activist, found the Feb. 19th antiwar rally in Washington D.C., called by the Libertarian Party and the barely existent People’s Party, to be such a refreshing difference. I was very glad that the national Green Party voted to endorse it, in a very close vote.
Just as imperialism squeezes every attempt at liberated space outside its home borders, so too do left parties short-circuit that space within them. This is a terrible tragedy.
Reading this from my friend who I greatly appreciate and admire I ask myself, could Mitch Cohen possibly be on the threshold of a trans-partisan perspective that transcends both the old left and the old right? One that affirms both freedom AND fairness? Both our individual unique expressions AND our embeddedness in community and society as a whole? Might he find of value this International Declaration of Individual and Common Rights to Earth? Here it is:
An International Declaration on Individual and Common Rights to Earth
We hereby declare that the earth is the common heritage of all and that all people have natural and equal rights to the land of the planet. By the term “land” is meant all natural resources. Subject always to these natural and equal rights in land and to this common ownership, individuals can and should enjoy certain subsidiary rights in land. These rights properly enjoyed by individuals are:
1. The right to secure exclusive occupation of land
2. The right to exclusive use of land occupied.
3. The right to the free transfer of land according to the laws of the country.
4. The right to transmit land by inheritance.
These individual rights do not include:
1. The right to use land in a manner contrary to the common good of all, e.g., in such a manner as to destroy or impair the common heritage.
2. The right to appropriate what economists call the Economic Rent of land.
The Economic Rent is the annual value attaching to the land alone apart from any improvements thereon created by labor. This value is created by the existence of and the functioning of the whole community wherein the individual lives and is in justice the property of the community. To allow this value to be appropriated by individuals enables land to be used not only for the production of wealth but as an instrument of oppression of human by human leading to severe social consequences which are everywhere evident.
All humans have natural and equal rights in land. Those rights may be exercised in two ways:
1. By holding land as individuals and/or
2. Sharing in the common use of the Economic Rent of land.
The Economic Rent of land can be collected for the use of the community by methods similar to those by which real estate taxes are now collected. That is what is meant by the policy of Land Value Taxation. Were this community created land value collected, the many taxes which impede the production of wealth and limit purchasing power could be abolished.
The exercise of both common and individual rights in land is essential to a society based on justice. But the rights of individuals in natural resources are limited by the just rights of the community. Denying the existence of common rights in land creates a condition of society wherein the exercise of individual rights becomes impossible for the great mass of the people.
WE THEREFORE DECLARE THAT THE EARTH IS THE BIRTHRIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE.
Originally composed and declared at a meeting of the International Union for Land Value Taxation held in 1949. For details of the many Green Parties worldwide that have land value tax (commons rent public finance) in their platforms see: https://commonground-usa.net/14320-2/ Those interested may wish to subscribe to newsletters of both of these organizations.
The proposal by Henry George for a Single Tax on land values has been opposed by landowners for the past century and this should not be a surprise. The appeal for acceptance of good ethics being applied in our national tax regime is (naturally) contrary to the greed that most landowners feel and apply to the speculation that landownership offers and provides. However, what we (as Georgists) need is a similar policy, which is an alternative to that of causing this kind of offense and opposition that LVT creates. My poem below, (based on "Seeing the Georgist Cat" concept), provides a fitting alternative.
A MORE STEALTHY GEORGIST CAT
The Georgist cat is small and lean
And often doesn’t get to be seen.
It hides in the branches of an economic’s-tree
So it takes a long while for you or for me,
To appreciate its cute and original form
That the landlords are so ready to scorn.
The economic’s-tree has many fine branches
(On which we contend, there are no free-lunches).
Whilst the land-owning rich in the city all claim
As bloated capitalists, that they’re not to blame
For the gap that lays ‘twixt the poor and the wealthy,
But oppose any tax to make our nation healthy.
Have you heard the tale of a committee, that
Thought to bell and get warning of a fat cat?
But could not find a soul to apply this device,
Because typically all were a council of mice!
Our Georgist cat has a bell ready-fitted,
(Which makes this analogy more to be pitted).
This warning sound makes our ideals unwanted,
For a new tax is how politicians get doubted.
So the Georgist cat fails to catch any mice
That pose as landlords, along with their vice.
But how shall we silence the bell’s warning sound
And quieten the news that our pussy’s around?
Our Georgist feline is in serious error,
‘Cause its bell draws attention not only to whether
Valuable sites can be ethically shared,
But also the rent from a site is declared
As the means to replace other kinds of taxation,
Which obviously causes the landlords vexation.
In the economic’s tree many other beasts lurk
But are missed, after learning of Henry G’s quirk
Through the cat-finder’s recently brilliant discovery.
This writer seeks a new means for recovery
From our politi-unacceptable claim,
And stealthily project LVT once again.
If we would but examine some more of the tree
Alternatives are waiting there for us to see.
Among them is hiding a far better way
For an equivalent LVT effect, to stay
In essence, without causing such evil offences
To the landlords and their partitioning fences.
When a property-owner decides to sell--quick
The gov’ment buys its land, and not the public!
Its occupant then leases it for a similar fee
To the One-Tax of Henry George’s decree.
Any buildings on-site should be sold as previously
But without the land, on which the price grievously
Had risen, with huge speculation in its advance
That stopped entrepreneurs from having a chance.
The cost of this land must be raised through new bonds
Which the government sells and the public responds,
‘Though their interest-rate’s a bit lower than rent,
Their returns are more stable than the average tenant!
This process will take many years to complete--
So its financial support is no great money feat.
After the lease-fees begin to collect,
Gov’ments can tax less, and firmly expect
To pursue this policy without change, until
All the lease-fees are site-rents in the Gov’ment’s till.
With the land properly shared, the government sees
That site development stays with the current leasees.
Other taxes that cause so much trouble and hate
Are scrapped, with great pleasure to all in the state,
Except for some bankers and the tax collectors
Whose actions no longer apply in these sectors.
Land-rights will be shared through this simple device,
By a fast-growing country that takes our advice.
Thanks for highlighting Mitch's work, raising the issue of transcending partisanship (I prefer the idea of post-partisan) and dealing it to land rights. I became "friends" with Mitch through our writing days after the wonderful post partisan, Rage Against the War Machine Rally only to discover that we were in the same room at the after party at the Tabard Inn with many common friends but did not meet in person. Wish we had but good to connect afterwards. Glad to know he is your friend. Here is my Substack about the rally - https://coronawise.substack.com/p/signs-of-political-evolution
and my posting of your letter to King Charles https://coronawise.substack.com/p/open-letter-to-king-charles. Thanks for teaching us about land rights.