Aren't public schools, public transportation and libraries communist? Why do they exist in the United States?

Question

I don't have children, I don't use public transportation and I don't go the library. Why should I have to help pay for these things? It's communist! I know you'll say, "it's an investment in America" but shouldn't I get to decide how to invest MY money? And I dont' want to invest in these communist ideas. I thought the US was centered on capitalism.

Answer 1

To answer your first question, communism (which is only one label for socialism - they're the same thing really) is defined as

"a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state." [1]

As the institutions that you listed are owned and operated publicly and by the community, they are communist/socialist. People like to point out that our communism (though they don't call it that) is determined by a voting public. They contrast our system to dictator-led communist systems such as the former U.S.S.R. While the distinction is worth making, it fails to remove the characteristics of socialism from many (even most) aspects of U.S. politics. [2]

Your next question (why they exist in the U.S.) is much more complicated. My response is only one among many valid answers. I deal here primarily with public education. Different critiques might apply to transportation and libraries.

When talking about democracy/capitalism [3] versus communism/socialism, U.S. citizens often get this notion that the former is pure and good while the later is evil. By definition, we only do that which is pure and good. This is this notion today that America has always stood against communism.

This however has not really been the case. During the first half of the 20th century, the idea of communism was quite in vogue. There were many sympathizers to communist Russia. And the press went out of its way to (quite misleadingly we now know) paint Russia in a favorable light. Communist sympathizers were prevalent on the left up until the unexpected collapse of the U.S.S.R. in 1989.

The rise of public education (in its current form) in the U.S. coincided with the establishment of the Prussian system in the early decades of the 20th century. The purpose of compulsory public education was never education (private education did a better job than does public education - see [4]). It was indoctrination. Forcing all children to be educated by the state allows them to brought up as "good citizens". Ultimately, I think that the goal of some public education proponents (but not all) was to achieve full fledged communism.

In summary, I feel the same as you. I don't wish to be forced to pay into these institutions (communism always involves the use of violence to force the masses to follow the dictates of the ruling class/majority). I think though that it is helpful to label these things for what they are and to realize the much to is done in this nation is a far cry from capitalism.

addendum to aztrain23: Yes. Firefighters, policemen and MOST roadways are communistic. It is helpful to label these for what they are as well. If you think these things must be communistic, just say so. I'll counter though that we often give in to socialism because of lack of vision. All services worth offering can be offered by the market. And they can be offered more efficiently and without the corruption that inevitably comes with socialism.

Answer 2

This is an interesting question.
Instead of labeling these institutions politically, why not consider a cost - benefit analysis to decide their worth?
For example, how much money would big business, the main political lobby force in the USA, be required to spend on their employees to train them to a suitable level for employment in a modern technological country such as the US, if there were no public schools or libraries? Would you prefer to spend more for all your goods and services because all the employers in the country were forced to teach their employees everything? Would you like to be surrounded by completely ignorant people, even assuming you or your parents could afford an education or study material?
How congested would the city roads be if everyone was forced to make their way to work by car each morning? And no car pooling, that's sharing, which you seem to consider a Communist idea.
Presumably you'd like a per mile based tax on roads as well, as only people who use them should have to pay for them?
I think you have your 2 points worth, please vote this best answer if you want more discussion on this topic. ;)

Answer 3

Not necessarily.
They are more Socialist in nature.
Libraries were originally a form of "voluntary" socialism, built with contributions. Schools were originally started by churches through voluntary contributions, and the parents of students paid the teachers.
Public transportation is another issue. It has always been taxpayer paid, to the best of my knowledge.
America has"VOLUNTARY SOCIALISM" in several forms. INSURANCE is a classic example.
You volunteer to put some of your money into a pool, and by contractual agreement, that money helps people who suffer when a personal disaster occurs.
SOCIALIZED MEDICINE seeks to take the money from both YOU and from your insurance company, remove it from the VOLUNTARY status it now enjoys, and give it all to an INEFFICIENT tyrannical governing authority with NO fiscal responsibility.
That describes most EVERYTHING the government does.
We didn't have many problems with health care insurance until the GOVERNMENT started interfering with it.

Answer 4

They are not communist. What are you thinking? We, the people, agreed to set up these types of things. We agreed to let the government use our tax dollars to fund these things. We agreed that they were needed to help America thrive. If you don't like America, LEAVE. If it was communist, then we wouldn't have a choice, or a vote. The government would just do it. You should feel lucky to have such things.

Answer 5

One word; community. Whether or not you like it, you live in a society. There's a saying, "society is only as good as it's lowest member," I'm not sure who said it. Essentially, society as a whole (government being an institution of such) has an obligation to work towards increasing the quality of life for everyone. This includes libraries for educational and civic purposes.

Have you ever been to your local library? Do you participate in your community? You can learn a lot from them as well and in order to continue our civilization we must educate our citizens.

Answer 6

Communist? No. Socialist? Yes. But get over it. We all pay for government programs that we don't use or agree with. Call it the cost of democracy. I just wish more people paid into that democracy. As it is, those that use the most pay the least.

Answer 7

They are not communits but socialist. Actually, schools used to be run by local churchs. Dude, go the the library and enjoy your tax dollars....the universal health care is what you should be argueing about....not only is it a bad program, but it will be closer to communism then the library..

Answer 8

I think I understand your sarcasm, or at least I hope it's sarcasm.

By the way, that also means that firefighters, policemen, and all roadways are communistic, because they are publicly funded and taken out of your taxes as well.

Answer 9

Then go get a construction job that pays under the table. If you refuse to do that, then shut up and accept the fact that every law abiding citizen pays taxes. And stop with the "poor me" attitude, you sound pathetic.

Answer 10

Tell that to the tax and spend lefties inhabiting Capital Hill.