9. Which of the arguments for municipal ownership seem to you to be the strongest, and why? Which of the arguments against?
10. Would it be consistent for an Englishman to favor municipal ownership of street railways in London but to oppose it in New York after becoming a resident there?
Topics for Debate
1. Street railways should be (a) owned and operated by private companies, or (b) owned by private companies and operated by the government, or (c) owned and operated by the government.
2. Guild operation should be applied to all public utilities.
CHAPTER XXV
EDUCATION
The purpose of this chapter is to explain why education is made compulsory, how the schools are managed, what they cost, and what they are trying to do.
In a democracy education is essential.
Education and Democracy.—No matter where one may go, in any part of the world, it will be found that political democracy and public education tend to keep pace with each other. In despotisms one will rarely find a system of universal, free, public education; or, if it is found, one can be sure that the despotism will not last very long. Education is the friend of democracy and the foe of despotism. Indeed it can fairly be said that without a system of public education no democracy can be sure of its own permanence. This is because the maintenance of democratic government depends upon the ability of the people to think straight and to see things clearly. The more political freedom you give a people the greater is their opportunity for abusing it.
Free government depends on intelligence.