Why do you have a right to public education but not public healthcare?

[Postman]

How can you not have one without the other?

[mnhtnbb]

1. Public education is required to make democracy work; an informed electorate is essential.

Insurance for health care was developed in the 20th century. It's a damn shame that
the system of health care in Britain that was developed after WW II wasn't also developed
in this country.

[Postman]

5. So is a healthy one....

They have us from both ends....

Market the junk food/unhealthy lifestyle to make people sick, then milk them on the health care side with outrageous profits and claim denial.....

[salguine]

10. That may have been true once, but now our elected representatives—

at the national level, at least—don't see an informed electorate as a particularly desirable thing. Trust me, having an electorate that doesn't know anything works to their advantage come election time, and in their eyes, that trumps the damage done to our democracy by having a stupid citizenry. It's the same reason that they don't mind in the least that most people don't vote.

[mnhtnbb]

11. The US has gradually been moving toward oligarchy, which is why

the powers that be aren't interested in having an educated electorate. The concept of democracy
requires an informed electorate. Our reality is quite different.

[Echo In Light]

19. "Gradually?"

[MrsBrady]

2. as much as education is underfunded, seems to me like they don't want that either n/t

[zazen]

3. favorite scene in Sicko is the montage of US schools, post office, etc., with Soviet prop film

[slackmaster]

4. Do you have a right to public education?

All states require that kids get educated up to a certain level, and provide schools supported by taxpayer money. But I don't see anything in the federal Constituation about a right to an education at public expense.

I don't believe any state provides blanket free education past high school, which IMO is the bare minimum a person needs to survive but not sufficient for most people to prosper.

[Postman]

8. Yes, you have a right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights

Article 26

[slackmaster]

15. It doesn't say what level you have a right to be provided with at public expense

And as noted in the Wiki article there is controversy over compulsory schooling.

[CTyankee]

9. The standard argument is grounded in the Preamble to the Constitution.

"promote the general welfare" is the rubric there.

I guess it would be a good enough Constitutional basis...

[Fountain79]

12. That's a dangerous precedent to take....

If the constitutionality of an action is based on, "To promote the general welfare" then that leaves quite a bit open in terms of what is in the public's best interest.

[CTyankee]

13. Well, it's one that has been used over the years by public education activists.

It IS kinda broad to be basing an entire policy on. But there it is.

[Fountain79]

17. Public Education is a state issue...

It should not be a national issue really...when you get the national government involved with state and local education you get "No Child Left Behind"

[surrealAmerican]

18. That was one bad policy...

... but without some federal guidelines, there are states that would decide that anything beyond eighth grade should not be funded at all.

[HereSince1628]

6. Public education relieves corporations from the need to train people

In other words, public education saves corporations money. And really, private colleges and universities are playing in the same game.

[SteelPenguin]

7. Why do we have anything public?

public roads? Why should I pay taxes to fix YOUR roads?

firefighters? Why should I pay for someone to put YOUR fire out?

lighthouses? Why should I pay for someone to warn YOU about the rocks?

"...the government should provide public goods — goods that are nonrival (they benefit everyone) and nonexcludable (there’s no way to restrict the benefits to people who pay.)"
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/what-should-government-do-a-jindal-meditation/

nonrival and nonexcludable. National defense. Lighthouses. Education. Health Care.

Do we educate people even if they can't pay anything? Of course. Does it benefit everyone? Obviously.

Should we heal the sick even if they can't pay anything? Of course. Does it benefit everyone? Obviously.

[Echo In Light]

14. From establishment POV, indoctrination is required - but healthcare? You're on your own

[juno jones]

16. Education is somewhat necessary for a workforce,

but who cares what happens when you drop?

There's always another one coming up to take your place.

Bic employees we call 'em.

[HelenWheels]

20. The republicans have been trying to destroy public Ed too

and they don't want anyone to get anything else "handed" to them.

[area51]

21. And ...

why do you have a right to single-payer police and fire protection w/o having to buy insurance and have deductibles and co-pays? Why do we have single-payer roads? :think:

Questions on single-payer healthcare? Find info here.

Today's death toll due to lack of healthcare: 273 people.

[DireStrike]

22. Oh don't worry, public education is next on the chopping block.

Freedom is on the march! WHEEEEE It's like riding a roller coaster with no brakes. Or rails.