The U.S. School System Is More Deeply Socialized than Soviet Agriculture Was under Stalin; the Economics of the U.S. Public-School System Would Be Readily Familiar to Any Student of the Soviet Economy

Though the United States is a broadly capitalist country, primary-secondary education is conducted under an almost exclusively socialist model. Indeed, the U.S. school system is more deeply socialized than Soviet agriculture was under Stalin. About 90 percent of U.S. students attend government schools for primary and secondary education, and practically 100 percent of taxpayers pay into the system. The Soviets, for all their effort, never managed to achieve 90 percent socialization of agriculture.

This comparison is not a facetious one; just as Soviet apparatchiks used their positions of influence to command better wages, better food, better housing, and other privileges not accorded to the vast proletariat on whose behalf they alleged to labor, American government workers—and government-school workers in particular—enjoy far higher wages, better healthcare benefits, more job security, guaranteed pensions, generous paid vacations, and other benefits not dreamt of by the working people on whose behalf they allegedly engage in “public service.” And the economics of the U.S. public-school system would be readily familiar to any student of the Soviet economy.

--Kevin D. Williamson, The Politically Incorrect Guide to Socialism (Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, 2011), e-book.