What I know is that the USPS is often the cheapest and easiest way to send a package. The number of services they offer outpaces FedEx and UPS. What I pay in taxes for public schools is magnitudes cheaper than the average private school tuition. The taxes I pay in exchange for access to nearly every single book for free is a helluva lot cheaper than buying a single book new or used. Paying for a ride of a public bus is a lot cheaper than uber or lyft.
I assume the cost of bureaucracy is what we collectively pay for in taxes. If what I pay in taxes for these public services is cheaper than purchasing these goods and services through for-profit vendors, I think I can safely say I do not get a similar cost in bureaucracy.
Additionally, even if these things were slightly more expensive than the "free market" I would be willing to pay more and help share the burden of ensuring everyone had universal access.
Private schools are on par with public schools ($10k/yr) for the same kind of school, with large class sizes. Expensive private schools are far better "product" than public schools with small classes and better extracurriculars and amenities.
Your property taxes are subsidized by taxes paid by non-school-families.
I'm confused by the first point. The USPS has a monopoly on sending packages and letters? I recognize the USPS is subsidized by the US government but that is exactly my point. They amount of real money I'm taxed that eventually ends up subsidizing the USPS seems to me to be less than the money I pay to ship using non-subsidized services. If the government is able use my tax dollars to "artificially" push prices lower than on the "free market" while ensuring that the service is available to nearly everyone in the country, that feels like a success.
Are you saying if the USPS didn't exist FedEx and UPS would be cheaper?
