Teaching Property Rights

Were we to teach our children that the United States was a free nation dedicated to protecting human rights (including property rights) we would do a better job preparing them for a life in a free country. This current game, where public schols teach children that America is a regressive nation organized for the greed of a ruling class of capitalists, seems to be leading us to ruin.

There are three things students need to learn about property:

The first is that every one has property. The two most important pieces of property anyone owns is their time and their mind.

Secondly, in a free society, people have say so over their property. One's success and happiness is determined largely by how well one manages their property. (For example: Good time management skills helps one optimize their allotment of time)

Finally, students must learn to respect the property of others.

As property rights are inclusive (everyone has property), teaching students about property rights helps prepare them for life in a free society.

Conversely, teaching students that the United States is a class society organized around the ownership of capital is exclusive and alienating. Only a few people will ever play a meaningful role in the ownership of a Fortune 500 firm.

Students taught that the United States has a socio-economic system centered on private ownership of the means of production are apt to ask about alternatives. To which the public teacher will reply: "Why yes, there is an alternative. In socialism the means of production are owned by the people. This school is an example of socialism. Rather than working for the greed of a distant capitalist, I, your humble teacher, am a superior being who works for the benefit of society."

The result of teaching capitalism instead of property rights is that we produce a population with poor financial and time management skills that feels alienated and disrespects the property of others with the foolish notion that collective ownership and the elimination of property rights is progress.

If we taught that property rights were a fundamental human right, we would end up cultivating a society of people who will thrive in a free world. If we teach the ideas of a culture war, we will end up with culture war and will most likely lose our freedoms.