When a close friend of mine was unemployed in Washington, DC, she enjoyed most of the free amenities with her then two children. There were so many parks and plazas, not to mention museums and libraries that she could access completely for free. Doing so much also helped keep her mind off the unemployment, which was excellent for her mental health and allowed her confidence once she regained employment. With the increased privatization for public space, it is abundantly clear that the empire only wants people out in public if we can “afford” to be there.
Libraries used to be community spaces where people could quietly be in companionship without necessarily engaging, but knowing that we all need respite from the noise. However, librarians are now beginning to quit because of the requirement that they be much more than a place for books. Even being compassionate to unhoused individuals, there are various mental illnesses as well as poorly behaved individuals that make working in libraries more dangerous than necessary. Inequality and greed are taking away one of the few spaces that has managed to avoid privatization for over a century.
It is no secret that people love the idea of private schools, especially since that was one of the methods of avoiding integration. Regardless of poor standards or outright propaganda, people have claimed that private schools offer the best opportunities, and that “good” parents will make ways to afford to send their children. Meanwhile, public schools are being shut down as a prominent part of Project 2025, and there is no telling whether students who may have special needs will be served or even gain their independence.
Parks are another type of public space that is currently in danger, although fewer people are ready to acknowledge this truth. Surrounding parks with businesses may seem like a good idea, but what happens when the bathrooms, water fountains, and even shade covering become privatized? Without support for being outside, the visions of families and elderly populations enjoying public space will become a thing of the past, especially with the rising cost of living. It is as if the empire is telling everyone to get in shape without offering the chance or time to do so.
All of these public spaces are part of what previously made the United States a collection of successful communities. Now, all neighborhoods for below middle class are becoming shells of themselves, lucky to pull corporate chains since residents no longer have capital. There was a time when people used to be able to build their own communities with resources, but the majority of those chances are dying, and it becomes sad to see people give so much credence to those who have too much.
Chasing A Dying Empire 