Friday, February 5, 2016

Democratic Socialism - We Already Have It

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM:  I don’t know what folks are so scared of?  We ALREADY HAVE democratic socialism:

We have:
  1. Local ,state and federally financed roads and interstates
  2. Public schools
  3. Public parks
  4. Police
  5. Fire departments
  6. United States military:  Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard
  7. GI Bill
  8. 40 Hour Work Week (due to socialist unions)
  9. Minimum Wage
  10. Social Security
  11. Medicare

Don’t you want to bring down the costs of health care and to have everyone covered?  Everyone will be able to go to get healthcare when they need it and will be able to afford their prescriptions.  Right now, my husband gets his prescriptions filled every month.  His medications cost us over $250 per month.  I do NOT get mine filled; it is $268.  Why his and not mine?  His is a life threatening condition (severe asthma).  Mine is painful, but non-life threatening.  I get to live with the pain and discomfort.  Yes, it sucks, but we don't have over $500 to shell out each month on drugs.

And, what is so different between having publicly financed K-12 and having publicly financed college?  When I was growing up in the 1960s and 70s, Kindergarten wasn’t included.  Schools were just 1-12.  Now, it’s K-12 and we have Head Start and Preschools.  College is a natural extension.  Our young people should not be starting out with crushing debt.

Some History that shows the progress our country has made:

1647:  When the first schools were established in the U.S. there were ONLY elementary schools, no middle or secondary schools.  Attendance wasn’t required.

1785:  Public schools were only for the poor in some places.  The rich were expected to pay for their children. 

1820:  First public high school in Boston.

1827:  Public school is made available to all (Boston).

1851:  First compulsory attendance laws passed in Massachusetts.


1954:  Brown vs. Board of Education – segregated schools are abolished as “inherently unequal”

Let's continue to move forward.

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