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high schoolers ignorance

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Constittuionalist Posted: Mon, Jul 19 2010 5:10 PM
Why are so many high school students liberals on economic issues. I try to explain austrian economics to my teachers and some classmates and either the classmates don't care or the teachers just repeat the same tired keynesian bull. All the economics classes at high schools are centered toward central planning economics and full of lies and fraud. When will be truly able to explain the austrian point of view in government schools considering that government schools aren't going away anytime soon? At least when will we make progress on educating people on real side of free markets not this so called capitalist system that we have know which is just big business controlling the economy and since they are privately owned calling that capitalism?
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I'm very glad first off that men and women your age are learning solid economics from the Mises Institute. The problem that you are talking about is a simple one really. The answer is they will not change the public school system. The public school system was based off of the Prussian system which was only designed to make solid workers who were willing to take orders and be efficient. It was not designed to create men and women who think for themselves or think creatively to solve problems. So it will always push education that backs what the current regime is doing. So unless Laissez Faire is adopted by both practice and thought by the officials in charge and a solid reform of political, economical, and educational systems occurs, public schools will continue to teach pour economical thought. I feel that the best way to ensure that students learn solid economics, as well as solid education in general, is through home-schooling. I am 25 and unfortunately am only really learning these concepts and ideas now. I'm glad you have a head start!
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MiddleWay replied on Tue, Jul 20 2010 11:08 AM
Good for you to start learning sound economics at such an early age. I only started at the end of last year and I'm 24 now. I do understand what you are talking about as I've had the same experience, only with people that just graduated from public school systems. However, recently I've been reading the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (not that he is an economist), who had some suggestion about how to change people's ideas, which to summarize is to show a humble attitude and avoid words with strong feelings. I've decided to try it. Perhaps it could be of some help to you?
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Andrew replied on Tue, Jul 20 2010 11:50 AM
Constittuionalist:
All the economics classes at high schools are centered toward central planning economics
Central planning economy?! You're kidding, man, aren't you?
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Hi Jonathon, I understand your situation very good, as i have exactly the same experience. Im 19 years old and I started to learn "economics" 5 years ago, but i just wanted to tell you, that I completely agree to your statement. Have a nice day. Lewi
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