Now, if this was structured as a negative tax system, where eg everyone after graduating high school starts with -$10k in taxable income for a handful of years, perhaps that could avoid punishing those that choose to self-study.
An educated populace is an inherent good. There’s nothing magic about the particular choice of K-12, and one could very convincingly argue that with the increasing complexity of modern life and increasing expectations from employers that ongoing adult education is also a net good, even when you’re not the recipient.
Ongoing education can also be vocational for those who aren’t inclined towards typical academia.
Cynically, one can also point to the current political administration of the U.S. (and the comparative education rates for its voters) as a case in point for why education is important.
What more do you want? People just like to complain about political issues as a type of entertainment.
I do however understand where you are coming from. MIT courseware is abundant, youtube, library resources, github `awesome` lists...
If there wasn't bureaucracy/capitalism surrounding higher education i wouldn't mind it coming from tax dollars since it would be another log added to the fire per se. Plus it helps to create a stronger workforce (theoretically, assuming graduates). Without the right safeguards, free college edu wouldn't work, would be nice tho
I consider this a matter of extreme importance. Your gutter-tier hot take makes me think you may be the one confusing this with entertainment.
It’s inoculation against exploitation, a mental vaccine that, when done right, promotes cooperation over self-interest.
Which is exactly why those who are threatened by it, seek to restrict or destroy it.
Not everything is a zero sum game. That’s just a fact of living in a society. Some people pay in to the system much more than you, and you benefit from that. And vise versa, there’s someone paying less and they benefit from your contributions (taxes, etc). That’s what society is about. A system that allows citizens to thrive. It’s not supposed to be about ME ME ME.
Just my 2 cents…as an american that’s tired of this attitude. Capitalism with small guardrails is garbage in my opinion.
On a somewhat related note - many americans think free healthcare is not worthwhile because it’s a net negative for them PERSONALLY. I struggle to understand that as well. Like “oh i don’t want to pay for that”. Meanwhile most of your fellow americans can’t afford basic care.
What’s the end game??? You’re entitled to your opinion of course but i don’t _understand_ it.