Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: funkedup on July 16, 2003, 03:18:03 PM

Title: banana
Post by: funkedup on July 16, 2003, 03:18:03 PM: Let me sum our previous discussion in two lines:
Funked: "Public Education is Socialism"
banana: "But Public Education is Good, It Can't Be Socialist. I have refuted your argument."

I'm sure you can see the flaw in your reasoning.

If not, let me help you.

I didn't say public education was all bad. All I said is that it is a socialist policy. Let's look at the definition of socialism and how it relates to public education.

Webster:
Quote
Main Entry: so·cial·ism
Pronunciation: 'sO-sh&-"li-z&m
Function: noun
Date: 1837
1 : any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3 : a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

1: ...governmental ownership and administration of the means of production [the schools] and distribution of goods [educational services]
CHECK

2 b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production [teachers and schools] are owned and controlled by the state
CHECK

It's socialism dude.

I never argued that it was entirely bad, just that it was a socialist policy. Plenty of socialist policies have at least some good effects, which is why they are so seductive to voters and politicians. But the negative effects on the economy and on freedom and pursuit of happiness need to be considered too. 30% (the percentage of 2003 that the average American works as a slave to the government) is way too much. The way I see it, we are only 70% free.
Title: banana
Post by: mietla on July 16, 2003, 04:28:39 PM: < mietla pulls up the chair. The lefties should be here any minute now.>
Title: banana
Post by: AKS\/\/ulfe on July 16, 2003, 04:43:09 PM: For the first part, do they mean Federal or state government?

Isn't the public school system somewhat controlled by the state government, but more so by the county government and thusly influenced by the people?

I'm not trying to refute anything, just curious as thats what I was led to believe.
-SW
Title: banana
Post by: Wanker on July 16, 2003, 04:44:57 PM: Well hell, ya got me. I suppose you could consider education of the mind a product of sorts.

But what I mostly objected to was the use of the term "socialistic policy" because most people on this board think "Commie!" as soon as the word socialist or socialism appears.

Government mandated public education is arguably the most important federal program in the history of this nation.

I do have strong opinions on public education, having been a product of it, and having been a licensed teacher in the public school system for five years. If you have a couple days and a 12 pack of beer, I'd be happy to sit down with you to give you my full opinion about what is right and what is wrong with it. :)
Title: banana
Post by: funkedup on July 16, 2003, 04:48:46 PM: Quote
Originally posted by banana
But what I mostly objected to was the use of the term "socialistic policy" because most people on this board think "Commie!" as soon as the word socialist or socialism appears.

I understand completely.

Quote
Government mandated public education is arguably the most important federal program in the history of this nation.

I do have strong opinions on public education, having been a product of it, and having been a licensed teacher in the public school system for five years. If you have a couple days and a 12 pack of beer, I'd be happy to sit down with you to give you my full opinion about what is right and what is wrong with it. :)

I have something like 20 years of public education, so you won't get much of a counter argument from me. :)
Title: banana
Post by: SirLoin on July 16, 2003, 04:53:53 PM: ..."OommffFKRR!!"

Why discuss social(ist) policies when you can just pull out chairs?
Title: banana
Post by: midnight Target on July 16, 2003, 05:27:48 PM: Publicly funded education isn't for the benefit of the individual. It is to benefit the State.
Title: banana
Post by: funkedup on July 16, 2003, 05:39:25 PM: Quote
Originally posted by midnight Target
Publicly funded education isn't for the benefit of the individual. It is to benefit the State.

Well spoken comrade Target! More vodka and caviar please!
(http://wso.williams.edu/~mhacker/Strangelove/pres-ambas.jpg)
Title: banana
Post by: Vulcan on July 16, 2003, 06:44:48 PM: Quote
Originally posted by funkedup
I understand completely.

I have something like 20 years of public education, so you won't get much of a counter argument from me. :)

I don't think you're allowed to count consecutive years in the fifth grade in the total Funked.
Title: banana
Post by: funkedup on July 16, 2003, 06:51:50 PM: Damn, BBS lawyer here Vulcan?
OK by that count I have...
*much moving of fingers and whispered counting*
... 4 years of public education.
Title: banana
Post by: midnight Target on July 16, 2003, 07:11:27 PM: Danke'

Actually that was comrade Thomas Jefferson's idea... but I'll pass on your well wishes.