1. Interstate highway system

Source: Unsplash/Nahari Perez Aguilar

Without socialism, you would probably still have a dirt path from your house to the local grocery store, and there would be no highways or interstates. That Spring Break road trip would take a whole lot longer.

2. Mail

Might as well stop and check the mailbox on the way out.

Hey, guess what? The second you touch that birthday card (Happy Birthday, by the way! You look great!), you’re a socialist.

Unless, of course, your aunt sent your card via UPS or FedEx, which would have cost more than the card.

3. Police

No need to hire a private security team to protect your property.

Since you live in America, our socialist cops will protect you whether or not you’re a citizen or a taxpayer.

4. Fire Department

Source: Canva

Is your house on fire? Well, those guys in the red truck carrying that giant hose with the high-pressure water are socialists.

And so is that fire hydrant.

5. Schools

If you attended any public school or send your children to a public school, you can thank socialism for your free education.

6. Courts

If the private sector were responsible for courthouses, we’d never have justice. Because courts aren’t exactly profit-machines.

The courtroom, judge, and jury all exist because of socialism. Not to mention public defenders. [Note: Does not apply to food courts.]

7. Medicare

Most senior citizens couldn’t afford private health care after retirement, so Medicare is literally and figuratively a lifesaver.

Socialism at its finest.

8. Medicaid

Just think of it as Medicare for low-income people, and as another way socialism helps keep people healthy and alive.

9. Social Security

It’s not called Capitalist Security, is it?

This safety-net slice of socialism helps senior citizens avoid living in poverty. It also keeps YOU from having to finance Mom and Dad’s golden years instead of saving for your own.

His detractors called FDR a commie for signing this into law, but it was so popular with the people, they had to make another law that said FDR couldn’t be president forever.

10. Sewers

Every time you flush a toilet, you’re a socialist.

Our sewer system does a lot more than remove waste. It also helps prevent disease.

11. Soda

Right now you are thinking, “Not Coca-Cola!”

Yes. Because the government subsidizes farmers to grow corn (and pays some farmers NOT to grow corn) to make cheap high-fructose corn syrup.

So if you’ve ever consumed a non-diet cola, you’re sipping on socialism.

Incidentally, Donald J. Trump has already bailed out farmers to the tune of $29 billion. Otherwise, they’d go out of business because of his horrid attempts at trade deals.

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12. Airports

Source: Unsplash/Emily Rusch

There’s a reason that air travel is (sort of) affordable—because taxpayer dollars fund airports and the FAA. Think what your baggage fees would be if they didn’t…

13. Amtrak

Yes, Amtrak is owned by the federal government. So next time you’re riding the rails in a sleeper car dream about socialism.

14. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines

Yep. Our national defense is owned, funded, and operated by the U.S. government—the very definition of socialism.

And 24 cents out of every tax dollar goes to the military-industrial complex.

15. Customs and Border Patrol

Perhaps the most ironic of all socialist entities: CBP.

This federal government agency helps keep illegal immigrants out, as well as regulates trade.

“Build that socialist wall!”

16. National Weather Service

Without this socialist service, you’d need to rely on looking out your window to figure out the weather which seems fine until a big storm is coming.

Being able to evacuate before the hurricane hits is invaluable. At any price.

17. Public Beaches

Source: Canva

Do you head to the coast when school lets out for the summer? Those public beaches you love to frolic on, that’s going to be socialism. Again.

You can thank Boston for creating the first public beach which they dubbed “The People’s Beach.” Massachusetts always got to be first…

18. Amber Alerts

Source: Flickr/Tony Webster

Amber Alerts have been helping track down kidnapped kids since the late 90s. The program was modeled after the inclement weather alerts from that other socialist program, the National Weather Service.

19. Business Subsidies

Source: Flickr / Steve Jurvetson

Capitalist royalty like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos also relies on socialism in the form of all those business subsidies and tax breaks.

20. Water system 

Every time we take a shower or wash some dishes, most of us are dripping socialism.

In fact, the residents of Flint, Michigan didn’t have to boil their tap water until they switched their system to a private (capitalist) company.

21. Garbage collection

Source: Canva

Trash day!

Unless you are paying a private company to collect your trash every week, then you are enjoying more socialism.

Oh, you take your own trash to the landfill? Is it owned by your county? Yep. Socialism.

22. Public libraries

Source: Pixabay

Public libraries all across the country are full of “free” books, “free” WiFi, and even “free” job training classes.

Those services aren’t really free, you are paying for them with your tax dollars whether you check out 10 books a week or don’t even have a library card.

Socialism at work.

23. Street lights

Source: Canva

If you don’t have to bring a flashlight when you walk your dog, you can say thanks to socialism for being able to see the sidewalk.

All those street lights lighting your path are funded by your tax dollars. Psst. That’s socialism.

24. The FBI and the CIA

Source: Wikimedia

Just like your local police, border patrol, and the various branches of the military, the FBI and the CIA are also socialist programs paid for by your tax dollars.

25. NASA

Source: Canva

A giant leap for mankind? Not without socialism.