The hottest Public institutions Substack posts right now

Public authority is retreating and private power is filling the vacuums, so things that used to be public are increasingly controlled by wealthy individuals, corporations, and paid private bodies.
That privatization creates unaccountable two‑tier systems—family banks, paid “boards,” philanthropic exits, and corporate control of key technologies—and produces real harms like preventable deaths, deeper inequality, and weakened global cooperation.
With institutions weakening, the practical response is to bear witness, grieve, and sustain community integrity while trying to build new collective forms; naming the change and acting with integrity is itself a form of resistance.

An elementary school in Hayward, CA spent $250,000 on Woke Kindergarten, a for-profit company, to address student achievement issues.
Despite the investment, student achievement at Glassbrook Elementary has fallen, highlighting the vulnerability of the students and the urgency of quality education.
The situation underscores the capitalistic nature of the educational system, even when initiatives claim to be against capitalism.

Tax exemptions can lead to resource misallocation and absurd litigation
Land rent collected by the State can fund public services effectively
Certain categories of land, like public land, endowment land of universities, and land used by separate autonomies, should be exempt from Land Value Tax

The current system creates a lot of fear and instability, making many people feel like they are struggling without options. The wealthy elite prioritize their profits, often at the expense of everyday people.
It's important for people, especially those suffering in the U.S., to realize that their true enemy is not immigrants or foreign powers, but the billionaires and corporations taking advantage of them. Building a united front among workers can help fight back.
Small groups are already taking action, like striking and forming mutual aid networks. These efforts can grow into a larger movement that challenges the current power structures and seeks a fairer distribution of wealth.

The infusion of a certain ideology into institutions and public life may not be sustainable.
There are parallels between the opioid epidemic and pediatric gender medicine.
American policymaking has been influenced by certain interest groups, leading to extreme positions and intractable problems.

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