--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Much of what's called 'public' is…" description: "\"Much of what's called 'public' is increasingly a private good paid for by users - ever-higher tolls on public highways and public bridges, higher tuiti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/robert-reich-1333_admission_much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasi_804677.png" --- # Much of what's called 'public' is increasingly a private… ![“Much of what's called 'public' is increasingly a private good paid for by users - ever-higher tolls on public highways and public bridges, higher tuitions at so-called public universities, higher admission fees at public parks and public museums.” quote by Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/robert-reich-1333_admission_much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasi_804677.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/robert-reich-1333_admission_much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasi_804677.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/robert-reich-1333_admission_much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasi_804677.png) > “Much of what's called 'public' is increasingly a private good paid for by users - ever-higher tolls on public highways and public bridges, higher tuitions at so-called public universities, higher admission fees at public parks and public museums.” [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Public services are being turned into profit-driven products, shifting costs onto users. **In simple terms:** Public goods are becoming paid services. Key Takeaway Advocate for equitable funding of public resources. Themes economics public policy inequality infrastructure education Mood concerned critical Type analytical policy When to use this quote - commuting - college enrollment - museum visits - park outings Key Concepts Privatization user fees public good erosion Questions to Reflect On - How does privatization affect social mobility? - What alternatives exist to fund public services? A Different Perspective Higher fees may reduce access for low‑income groups. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admission/) [Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bridges/) [Fees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fees/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher Tolls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-tolls-6152244/) [Highways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highways/) [Highways Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highways-public-6152245/) [Increasingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/increasingly/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Museums](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/museums/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parks/) [Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/private/) [Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public/) [Public Highways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-highways-5962107/) [Public Increasingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-increasingly-1934557/) [So-called](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/so-called/) [Tolls Public](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolls-public-6152243/) [Universities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universities/) [Users](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/users/) ## Related quotes > [“The public highways, which had been constructed for the use of the legions, opened an easy passage for the Christians missionaries from Damascus to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-public-highways-which-had-been-constructed-for-the-use-of-the/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [The public is increasingly disgusted with a steady diet of defamation, and prepared to reward those who refrain from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-daniels/the-public-is-increasingly-disgusted-with-a-steady-diet-of-defamation/) [Mitch Daniels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-daniels/) > [The so-called skills gap is really a gap in education, and that affects all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-davidson/the-so-called-skills-gap-is-really-a-gap-in-education-and-that/) [Adam Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-davidson/) > [Limbaugh can rightly be said to be the greatest populist expositor of conservatism in America since Reagan, and the link between the Reagan generation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/limbaugh-can-rightly-be-said-to-be-the-greatest-populist-expositor-of/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [What worries me are these so-called radio stations with program directors who don't play all the different flavors of hip-hop. 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Morality is the 'idea' of morals, their intellectual power, their power over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/many-a-man-renounces-morals-but-with-great-difficulty-the-conception/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [When I hear so-called professional journalists ask why we have celebrities speak for us and for the animals, the environment or social causes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/when-i-hear-so-called-professional-journalists-ask-why-we-have/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [In Tunisia, the so-called Yasmin revolution has led to the installation of a relatively moderate Islamic government. Whether or not that means democracy will,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-creveld/in-tunisia-the-so-called-yasmin-revolution-has-led-to-the/) [Martin Van Creveld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-creveld/) > [You always have to be worried about something that is considered a so-called 'scientific theory' that fits every scenario. Climate change, as they've defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/you-always-have-to-be-worried-about-something-that-is-considered-a-so/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [As long as I have the talent and there's a demand for the old Chinese man - whether he's a philosopher, or a master,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hong/as-long-as-i-have-the-talent-and-there-s-a-demand-for-the-old-chinese/) [James Hong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hong/) > [If you could drive straight down, into a tunnel bored through the crust of the planet, you'd hit this molten mess in about an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/if-you-could-drive-straight-down-into-a-tunnel-bored-through-the/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [By the time my first solo record came out, I was making a handsome living as a record producer. I had worked with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/by-the-time-my-first-solo-record-came-out-i-was-making-a-handsome/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [I think if you look all across the country, the so-called Blue Dogs are all gone to kennel. There are no more Blue Dogs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-if-you-look-all-across-the-country-the-so-called-blue-dogs/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robert Reich > [The Democratic Party is DEAD.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/the-democratic-party-is-dead/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [During three decades from 1947 to 1977, the nation implemented what might be called a basic bargain with American workers. 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She was a terrific energy and enthusiasm, and a great organizer.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/i-knew-hillary-clinton-from-undergraduate-days-and-was-enormously/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Public employees should have the right to bargain for better wages and working conditions, just like all employees do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/public-employees-should-have-the-right-to-bargain-for-better-wages/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Limits should be placed on how big big banks can become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/limits-should-be-placed-on-how-big-big-banks-can-become/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Every organization, no matter who it is, just follow the money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/every-organization-no-matter-who-it-is-just-follow-the-money/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Community colleges are great bargains. They avoid the fancy amenities four-year liberal arts colleges need in order to lure the children of the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/community-colleges-are-great-bargains-they-avoid-the-fancy-amenities/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Any bank that is too big to fail is too big. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/any-bank-that-is-too-big-to-fail-is-too-big-period/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [Today, for good or ill, people are thinking about many social problems from the standpoint of their own kitchen tables. I think the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/today-for-good-or-ill-people-are-thinking-about-many-social-problems/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [There's sort of a chilling effect on non-profits and the media and a lot of other places because the establishment is so powerful. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/there-s-sort-of-a-chilling-effect-on-non-profits-and-the-media-and-a/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) > [We already have an annual wealth tax on homes, the major asset of the middle class. It's called the property tax. Why not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/we-already-have-an-annual-wealth-tax-on-homes-the-major-asset-of-the/) [Robert Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) [Explore all 255 Robert Reich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/) ## More Admission quotes > [I wonder how long it would take him to realize I'm right as sin - it's the rest of the world that's wrong. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/i-wonder-how-long-it-would-take-him-to-realize-i-m-right-as-sin-it-s/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [In Hollywood, not to have an analyst is virtually an admission of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-vanderbilt/in-hollywood-not-to-have-an-analyst-is-virtually-an-admission-of/) [Amy Vanderbilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-vanderbilt/) > [Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/pride-is-an-admission-of-weakness-it-secretly-fears-all-competition/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Do you trust me? The question is usually asked before an admission that such trust is misplaced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-j-watson/do-you-trust-me-the-question-is-usually-asked-before-an-admission/) [S.J. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-j-watson/) > [Strong men don't compromise, it is said, and principles should never be compromised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/strong-men-don-t-compromise-it-is-said-and-principles-should-never-be/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Silly ideas, worth the admission price in smiles, but they're true. Is high-energy physics interesting because it's true or because it's crazy?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/silly-ideas-worth-the-admission-price-in-smiles-but-they-re-true-is/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [He's the kind of player that is worth the price of admission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-feaster/he-s-the-kind-of-player-that-is-worth-the-price-of-admission/) [Jay Feaster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-feaster/) > [However, I had a chance encounter with an admissions officer of Stevens Institute of Technology, who so impressed me by his erudition and enthusiasm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-reines/however-i-had-a-chance-encounter-with-an-admissions-officer-of/) [Frederick Reines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-reines/) > [African American children can't be educationally disadvantaged for 12 years and then experience a miracle cure when it comes time for admission into college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaka-fattah/african-american-children-can-t-be-educationally-disadvantaged-for-12/) [Chaka Fattah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaka-fattah/) > [The interval allowed was only five minutes, at the end of which I resumed the lecture; but so refreshing was the effects of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-combe/the-interval-allowed-was-only-five-minutes-at-the-end-of-which-i/) [George Combe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-combe/) > [Look around. 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Many of the men and women whom I admire as artists, the things they write, the songs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/in-poor-environment-i-find-great-inspiration-many-of-the-men-and/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [I like to pretend that I'm a tough guy. It's kind of an admission of defeat if I have to ask for help -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-louise-parker/i-like-to-pretend-that-i-m-a-tough-guy-it-s-kind-of-an-admission-of/) [Mary-Louise Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-louise-parker/) [Browse all 242 Admission quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admission/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Much of what's called 'public' is increasingly a private good paid for by users - ever-higher tolls on public highways and public bridges, higher tuitions at so-called public universities, higher admission fees at public parks and public museums.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Reich" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasingly-a-private-good-paid-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Admission" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasingly-a-private-good-paid-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/robert-reich-1333_admission_much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasi_804677.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/robert-reich-1333_admission_much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasi_804677.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/124/robert-reich-1333_admission_much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasi_804677.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Much of what's called 'public' is increasingly a private good paid for by users - ever-higher tolls on…” — Robert Reich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Reich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reich/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Much of what's called 'public' is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasingly-a-private-good-paid-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reich/much-of-what-s-called-public-is-increasingly-a-private-good-paid-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```