This is a carefully edited rehash of a post on the privatisation of education thread, as I think people often don't think about what they are voting for economically.
There are three choices, free market economy, mixed economy or command economy.
Those who want a command economy, banning private education, private health, etc., need a far-left socialist government to bring that about.
Those who think people should go without anything they can't pay for need to back the current neo-liberal government. This government is pushing us ever closer to a free market economy with minimal state support for anything.
In mixed economies, based on the capitalist system, most decisions are made by the market. Additionally, under this system, some areas, such as health, education, national defence and welfare, road building, school and hospital construction, the supply of medicines in hospitals, etc., are state-run.
After the war, we moved to a mixed economy. It is what most governments have said they would maintain. However, all Conservative governments, but this one in particular, have made it clear that because of their ideology, they will drive us away from the mixed economy towards a free market economy.
Our current government stood on a platform of moving to a free market. That is why it is draining support from the part of the mixed economy previously funded by the state. They told us this is what they would do; it is what they are doing.
