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A big silly welfare state

Education for Everyone (That Actually Works): The Case for a Bigger, Smarter Welfare State

Let’s face it: the current education system is kind of like a fax machine in the age of AI. It’s still here, it technically works, but it hasn’t kept up with what society actually needs. We’re still funneling every kid through a “one-size-fits-all” pipeline as if they’re all going to grow up to be accountants or astronauts. Meanwhile, Timmy in the back just wants to build custom motorcycles and Maya’s already selling her digital art as NFTs.

Now imagine a system where we stop pretending everyone learns the same, wants the same, or even likes school. A system where around age 16—when teens start making actual life decisions like getting tattoos they’ll regret—we let them choose their own educational path. Some could go into technical trades, others could head toward STEM, while others pursue creative paths like painting, dance, or interpretive bubble art (it’s a thing, probably).

This is where a larger welfare state comes in—not just handing out fish, but teaching folks how to fish, code, weld, sing opera, and maybe even fix the school’s Wi-Fi. It’s not socialism. It’s not capitalism. It’s sanity.

The Education System Right Now: Still Running Windows 95

Let’s start with a little reality check. Our current school system was designed in the Industrial Era to pump out obedient factory workers. We even ring bells like we’re changing shifts on an assembly line.

The problem? It’s 2025. The factories have moved overseas, AI is writing essays, and somehow we’re still testing kids on the Pythagorean Theorem like it’s a survival skill. (Spoiler: it’s not, unless you’re a triangle.)

Meanwhile, vocational programs and technical education have been treated like second-class citizens. Got straight A’s? Here’s AP Calculus. Got calloused hands from building furniture in your backyard? Here’s a pamphlet about how maybe college isn’t “for you.”

Welfare + Choice = Educational Freedom That Actually Makes Sense

In our proposed new world, a larger welfare state doesn’t just throw money at problems—it fixes systems. Starting with school. Imagine an education system where by 10th grade, students can choose their trajectory. Not in a “you must now commit your entire life to being a marine biologist because you once liked dolphins” way, but in a “here’s a buffet of realistic, supported options” way.

Here’s what that might look like:

  • At ages 14–16, students explore a variety of fields: trades, arts, sciences, humanities, technology, and culinary (yes, including TikTok chef certification—don’t hate the hustle).
  • By age 16, with support from educators, counselors, and yes, even their TikTok-addicted parents, they choose a career track.
  • From that point, education becomes hyper-relevant: engineers start coding, artists start portfolio-building, mechanics start fixing the buses that bring kids to school.

And guess what? If they decide to change tracks later on, they can. Because people change. Except for that guy from high school who still wears his letterman jacket at 30. He never changed.

Technical High Schools: Because Not Everyone’s a Doctor, Karen

Let’s stop pretending everyone wants to be a neurosurgeon. For many, success means building houses, writing music, or designing car wraps. Technical high schools would finally be recognized not as “where the bad kids go” but as elite training grounds for future professionals.

True Story #1: The “F” That Built a Fortune

Let’s talk about Mike. Mike barely graduated high school. His grades were a mess because he spent all his time in the auto shop. Teachers said he lacked discipline. Fast forward 10 years: Mike owns a custom motorcycle shop, makes $200k a year, and just got featured on a Discovery Channel reboot. Meanwhile, his high school valedictorian sells insurance and cries in his car during lunch.

In our improved system, Mike wouldn’t have been dismissed—he’d have been accelerated. By 16, he’d already be apprenticing with pros. By 18, he’d be a certified wizard of torque. By 25, he’s mentoring others in the same program that launched him.

For the Creatives: Art Degrees That Actually Support Artists (And Pay Bills)

Here’s where it gets really juicy. In this welfare-state-backed system, we don’t just support the trades and techies. We support the weirdos, too—the painters, sculptors, actors, poets, and that kid who films slow-motion videos of milk hitting the floor.

But instead of pushing them into traditional debt-ridden art schools, we create for-profit education incubators. Here’s how it works:

  • The incubator trains the artist for free.
  • In return, the company gets partial rights to anything produced for the next 5–10 years (depending on the agreement).
  • The artist keeps their rights too—but it’s a partnership.
  • Think of it like a record label, but for all creative fields.

True Story #2: Art School Dropout Makes It Big (With Help)

Lena was a brilliant painter but couldn’t afford school. She joined a welfare-backed creative incubator. They gave her supplies, mentors, studio space, and marketing. Now she’s selling prints, running a gallery, and splitting her earnings 70/30. She doesn’t feel exploited—she feels supported. And best of all, she never had to serve frappuccinos to tourists with “yoga studio CEO” energy.

In this model, art is treated as work, not a hobby. And artists? They’re respected contributors to society. Imagine that.

Gig Economy, But Make It Secure

Let’s be real. Not everyone wants to climb the corporate ladder. Some people want to fix bikes in the morning, drive Uber at lunch, and sell handmade jewelry online at night. This isn’t laziness—it’s flexibility. But under the current system, that lifestyle comes with no security, no insurance, and lots of ramen noodles.

In our expanded welfare state:

  • Gig workers get access to universal healthcare, subsidized housing, and free training.
  • They can pivot from gig work to skilled trade when they want to settle down—or vice versa.
  • No more fear of losing everything because a client ghosted them after three Zoom meetings.

True Story #3: The Uber Driver Who Launched a Tech App

Jared was driving for Uber full-time. He loved talking to people but hated the financial stress. Under the new system, he got coding classes through a free state program. Three years later, he launched a ride-sharing app that serves disabled passengers. He’s now a CEO, and he still occasionally drives to “keep it real.” Jared’s words, not ours.

How This Opens Doors for the Ambitious (Without Shaming Anyone Else)

In our reformed welfare-supported system, ambition isn’t punished—it’s unleashed.

  • Hard workers get access to the best tools. Want to become a surgeon? Go ahead. Universal education has your back.
  • Creators aren’t forced into starving-artist tropes. You can make cool stuff and afford guacamole.
  • Workers don’t compete with people who don’t want the job. No more grumpy baristas who secretly want to be DJs. Now, only people who actually want to serve coffee will serve coffee—and probably do it better.

This leaves room in the job market for those who care and excel, making your burger orders more accurate and your drywall installations straighter.

Joke Break: “Minimum Wage Math”

Ever notice how your $7 McChicken comes with 3 pickles, 1 bun, and no chicken? That’s because Kevin, age 18, doesn’t care. He’s only there because rent is due. But in this system, Kevin’s not stuck. If he likes video editing, we’ll give him Adobe Premiere. If he wants to be a dog groomer, he’s shaving poodles by Tuesday.

Rewriting the Social Contract: Rights, Not Handouts

This isn’t about creating a lazy society. It’s about removing forced participation. Some people aren’t built for the 9-to-5, and that’s okay. Give them housing, give them food, give them internet—but don’t expect them to punch a clock if they don’t want to.

In return, we get:

  • A happier population.
  • A more productive workforce.
  • Better art.
  • Better burgers.
  • Fewer people crying in office bathroom stalls.

Ownership and Intellectual Property: An Honest Deal

In this welfare-powered system, we extend a model already common in the workforce—if you create it in the company’s studio, they get a piece.

Why should artists be different? If they use taxpayer-supported schools, tools, and networks to build something amazing, the public should share in that success—just like a company would.

It’s not exploitation. It’s equity. Everyone eats when someone makes it.

This doesn’t mean you can’t own your work. It means you’ll have help making it—and someone in your corner when it’s time to promote it. That’s a much better deal than graduating with $100,000 in debt and a sculpture degree in “Post-Modern Soap Carving.”

Education as Infrastructure, Not a Gamble

In a truly reimagined society, education isn’t a gamble with 6-figure debt. It’s infrastructure—like roads, bridges, and broadband. You build it once, maintain it forever, and everybody benefits.

Doctors get trained.
Mechanics get licensed.
Poets get weird.
And kids finally stop asking, “When am I ever gonna use this?”

(Except for trigonometry. We still don’t know.)

Conclusion: A Smarter Welfare State is a Smarter Society

If we take the bold step of expanding the welfare state—not just as a safety net but as an ecosystem—we unlock a level of human potential that we’ve been stifling for decades. We stop treating education like a one-track race and start treating it like a network of paths. We respect plumbers the same way we respect PhDs. We give artists a chance to thrive without starving. And we let gig workers sleep at night knowing the lights will stay on.

We don’t get utopia. But we get options. And options are power.

A stronger welfare state won’t make people lazy. It’ll make people free.

And that’s the ultimate return on investment.

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