Blog 1 Exploring the Transformation of Utopia

I'm a Fairhope lessee.  I've been one for almost 30 years now.  I love this town.  I knew that it was started as a Utopian Society back in 1894 in Iowa by a group of idealists.  These idealists were upset at the economics of the times.  In the late 1800's  there were huge monopolies where tremendous wealth was created for a few, and that wealth was often used to oppress the common man who had to struggle to survive.  The wealthy could own most of the land and charge huge rents. 

Henry George was an economist and a philosopher of that era.  He wanted to think of a fairer way to tax and distribute wealth.  He felt that since God made the land, no one should own it, but it should all be held in trust for the benefit of all the citizens.  The rents would be the only tax necessary--hence--Single Tax.  The 'single tax' would be a land tax.  A property tax is on both the land and improvements, but Henry George did not believe in taxing the improvements, so he advocated a land tax. 

A small group of people from Iowa wanted try out his concepts (though George was adamant that it could only work if entire states or the entire country followed his principle--not just one small area.)  They toured different areas of the country to find the right spot to start their utopia, "free from all forms of monopoly."  They found this land in Alabama on the bluffs overlooking Mobile Bay, and thought they had a 'fair" chance of succeeding.  So Fairhope Single Tax Colony was begun. 

This blog is to explore how the Fairhope Single Tax Corporation has transformed over the years, and what it means in 2014.