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(In response to the closed group thread, same subject)

If you're worried that teachers will turn your kids into socialists;

Maybe you need to make a better argument for capitalism.

Maybe you need to ensure capitalism isn't short changing teachers.

Maybe your entrenched love of capitalism is blinding you to some positive aspects of a mixed economy.

Maybe you should talk to your kids more and ask them what they believe and why.

Maybe you should accept the fact that culture is a living thing that changes over time.

Maybe you should realize that you are influenced by the same culture that gave us McCarthyism.

Maybe you need to let other adults decide for themselves and stop discounting their opinions just because they're younger than you.

I'm not under the illusion that accepting social programs will bring about some kind of apocalyptic failure in our government. I think clinging to old ideas, rampant nationalism, racism, and fighting fictional wars does that just fine without our help.

RawBacons 5 Feb 7
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Capitalism isn't the problem. The problem stems from corrupt, over-reaching, and ineffective government which has grossly interfered with the system. ( 1 ) If government would enforce immigration and labor laws, many blue collar workers would not have to compete with illegal immigrants that work for half the pay. If government would allow workers to join together for redress of grievances, anti-labor and union laws would not keep workers under the boot of management/corporations (https://www.shmoop.com/history-labor-unions/law.html). And ( 3 ) if government wouldn't think it's job is to nanny state commerce, adults could make their own decisions about the quality of products and services.

Some social programs are necessary and good, just as some government intervention into the economy is good. The problem today is we have far too much intervention where we don't need it, and not enough where we do - mainly to the benefit of corporations over the people.

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I want to address this notion that “the government is going to steal my stuff” mantra we keep hearing from those who champion pure capitalism as the be all and end all of how to organize and run a society.

I’m here to tell you that you’re fears are 100% grounded in reality. Yes... in a civilized society the government IS going to come and take some of your stuff. Not all of it, but some of it.

They will do this through a process called taxation. If it helps, you can go ahead and think of taxation as your own personal financial investment in safe and clean surroundings in which to live.

You see, when the government comes and takes some of your stuff, they use that stuff to invest in programs which will benefit you:

  • Universal health care so that disease does not spread and you and your family die and all that stuff you value so much rots and turns to dust right along side your stinking corpse.

  • Airports to fly out of when you take those nice vacations to the Virgin Islands.

  • Highways in which to travel upon unimpeded, so you don’t have to stop every five miles in order to pay a toll to which ever corporate entity happens to own the stretch of road upon which you are about to embark.

  • A unified fire department, so if your stuff catches on fire there aren’t five privately owned fire brigades standing outside of your home in a brawl over which one gets to put out the fire while your stuff burns to ash.

  • Public internet in which to access Porn Hub, so when the wife isn’t interested you can jerk off without having to pay Porn Hub AND the Coca Cola Bottling Company for the right to look at Jenna Jamison’s tits.

These are just a few of the benefits you receive when the government comes and takes your stuff. There are more, but I have to leave for work.

Have a nice day. ?

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The great mistake is not to realize that capitalism and socialism can 'both' be failed systems neither of which work.

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