A comparison of economic policies and social consequences in the United States and Spain.

1. “Capitalist” America versus “Socialist”
Spain

2. “Capitalist” America “Socialist” Spain
School textbooks are socialized.
Parents pay a modest amount
each year per child on book rental,
administrative fees, photocopies,
lab material, etc.
Parents have to buy textbooks
each year for their kids (50-80
euros/kid in pre-school, 150-180
euros/kid in grade school, 300
euros/kid in high school, not
including extra material like
photocopies, which is another 30-
45 euros/kid per year). Parents’
associations are now working on
ways to pass books on from one
student to another each school
year, but it’s a lot of work, done by
a few individuals volunteering their
time.

3. “Capitalist” America “Socialist” Spain
School sports programs are
socialized. Parents only pay for
footwear, jock straps, etc. Three-
sport athletes don’t pose a serious
financial challenge to families.
Schools have no sports programs.
Parents pay 300-600 euros/kid per
sport in private sports clubs (not
including driving children to
competitions, often a 100-mile
round trip with European gas
prices). But, each sport lasts 9-10
months, so there are no 3-sport
athletes.

4. “Capitalist” America “Socialist” Spain
School lunch periods are
socialized. If you send your child to
school with a sack lunch and
something to drink, you have no
need to spend any extra money for
him/her to be on school grounds at
lunchtime.
Every child who eats at school has
to pay at least for the adults who
supervise lunch period, which
comes to at least 3.50 or 4 euros
per meal. A school-cooked lunch
and playtime afterwards costs 6 to
9 euros/kid.

5. “Capitalist” America “Socialist” Spain
School music / band programs are
socialized. For the price of an
instrument, children can have free
music lessons from 5th grade until
the end of high school. It’s
completely free if you get a hand-
me-down instrument from a
relative or friend.
Schools have no band programs.
Parents pay 60-75 euros/kid per
month in private music schools, or
30-40 euros per month in the few
public ones that exist (if you can
get your kids into one).

6. “Capitalist” America “Socialist” Spain
Extracurricular activities and clubs
in schools are socialized. Nobody
pays anything to be a member of
the Spanish Club or the Computer
Club.
Extracurricular activities and clubs
in schools generally are not
subsidized. Parents spend 40-60
euros/kid per month for each
activity they do.

7. “Capitalist” America “Socialist” Spain
Drivers education is socialized.
For a modest fee, high school
students learn how to drive.
Drivers education is only offered
through private driving schools.
Getting a drivers license normally
costs 1000-1500 euros.

8. “Capitalist” America “Socialist” Spain
People are up in arms because
the government wants health care
to be socialized, too.
Health care is socialized. Nobody
has to read fine print or worry
about losing everything if they get
seriously ill. And they get prompt,
excellent care for urgent
conditions and life-threatening or
serious illnesses.

9. Which country is truly capitalistic, and which has been a “closet socialist”
nation for over half a century?
Which system would you rather live in?
Which system can you better afford to live in?
Which system would it be better to bring your children up in?
If you want “small government,” be prepared to pay out of your own pocket
for what it won’t supply you with.
Or just go without. Who needs musicians, athletes, computer experts, or a
healthy populace?