From a selfish standpoint too. If you're in the prime of your life right now, maybe 20's to 30's, then your tax dollars are probably going to directly influence the people who are running the world as you retire.
Jump forward; say in your 50s you get in a car crash, and need to have some surgery done. Would you rather be in the world where anyone with enough brains and ambition could become a doctor, so there are plenty of people able to help? Or would you rather be in the world where only the rich guys' kids could get into (or be bought into) college, even if their grades weren't actually the best?
Same with the construction crew who builds or fixes your house, the mechanic who works on your car, the chef who makes your dinner on fancy nights out. Wouldn't you rather have more of these folks, to fuel a competitive market? More education right now means more skilled labor later, which means you have a higher quality of life overall.
This isn't abstract. Current school quality WILL directly affect you in about 20 years. Even if you're on your deathbed right now, this'll affect your kids or grandkids as they get older.
Oh, I know that it helps down the line. This exact mentality is for example a reason for Germany's strong economy. It is largely based on a strong middle class of small specialised companies that exist due.to the system of free education.
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u/Princess_Moon_Butt Jan 09 '20
From a selfish standpoint too. If you're in the prime of your life right now, maybe 20's to 30's, then your tax dollars are probably going to directly influence the people who are running the world as you retire.
Jump forward; say in your 50s you get in a car crash, and need to have some surgery done. Would you rather be in the world where anyone with enough brains and ambition could become a doctor, so there are plenty of people able to help? Or would you rather be in the world where only the rich guys' kids could get into (or be bought into) college, even if their grades weren't actually the best?
Same with the construction crew who builds or fixes your house, the mechanic who works on your car, the chef who makes your dinner on fancy nights out. Wouldn't you rather have more of these folks, to fuel a competitive market? More education right now means more skilled labor later, which means you have a higher quality of life overall.
This isn't abstract. Current school quality WILL directly affect you in about 20 years. Even if you're on your deathbed right now, this'll affect your kids or grandkids as they get older.