How business economics leads to bigger government.
 

The words have changed but the idea is basically the same.

Public schools were created to serve the needs of industry.

The national highway system likewise was to serve industry.

Big cities like New York City grew to serve commerce and you can't have a big city without city government to manage and coordinate the many daily activities. 1) Fire department 2) police dept. 3) health dept. 4) building department etc..

Ford's assembly line led to numerous motor vehicles and as they became more numerous we needed a Motor Vehicle Department

The Federal Aviation Administration was needed as air travel became more common.

It seems like big business and big government go hand in hand. All the above agencies were needed to facilitate business.

And last but not least we have the Affordable Care Act which will eventually lead to a single payer system. But that may require a lot of explanation.

Huh? First please explain how Public Schools were created to serve the needs of industry.

I thought the national highway system was created by Eisenhower to facilitate troop and equipment movement during the Cold War.

And man once was dependent upon wood for heating and cooking.
And upon himself to provide meat and food for his family.

Now, he is dependent upon an outside source.

I think as society improves and advances and population grows, YES, we are becoming more dependent on the government for more rules, regulations, standards, and common services, etc.

So, I think the evolution of the economic system (both local, national, and international) would tend to create more governmental regulations. If that is what you are saying big government is.

But, isn't that what an advanced society is?

What are you looking for? Details?

If you think public schools were created for some other reason, why don't you tell us about that other reason?

Okay, that may have been a reason too. But I can't imagine it was that reason alone. Look at the big benefit to industry.

To me, industry is a trade.

I don't think public schools were created to teach automobile assembly, brick laying, truck driving, manufacturing, welding, pipefitting, baking, cooking, etc.

Early American schools taught reading, writing, 'rithmetic, and citizenship

Yes, I agree. But it's not just about regulations. It's about the whole package: the number of civil servants and the taxes to pay for it. Everyone shares in the responsibility by paying taxes. What should we call it? Big government? Collectivism?

Village PL states "Everyone shares in the responsibility by paying taxes"

Well, not everyone.

VillagesPL: I don't quite understand your purpose here? Is your theme that our needs logically requires more expansive government? Or perhaps, your
theme is society starts with a need such as public schools and government can't help themselves and takes total control?

I want to respond with the thread's theme

Thank you

I thought I picked a word that would cover every activity, like the banking industry or advertising industry.

Perhaps not in the beginning. But if one could read and do math he might be qualified to serve as an apprentice. My father graduated, as a tool and die maker, from a public trade school.



There was a man who lived in Leesburg and was featured in the Daily Sun a few times. The first time was when he turned 100. He eventually lived to 109. He said he quit school to help support his family. All he had was a grammar school diploma but he got a job in a bank as a bank teller. Over the years he was promoted to loan officer because they trained him for it.

Okay, I stand corrected. Not everyone pays. I pay.

This may help further the discussion. Or not.

The Rise of Big Business and the Growth of Government : The Freeman : Foundation for Economic Education

Hi pqrstar: Actually that issue has been widely discussed in the papers. It connects with the escalating cost of college and the fact that graduates can't find jobs. This prompted the discussion of when high schools had college prep classes, business school and trades workshops auto, etc.

Experts have shown that high school kids could probably do the required work Math, English and yet prepare them for candidates trades. Many trade jobs are lacking candidates and these jobs pay as well as many college trained jobs.

Well, my purpose is to become aware of how we got where we are.

Yes, we need industry to be prosperous and big government seems to follow as a natural consequence.

In the beginning, I believe most Americans were farmers. Why would they have a need for schools? I think the need came as industry grew and required some minimum level of education.


Does that help any?