After reading through this
Time’s article about possible
draconian cuts to California’s state colleges, it became clear to me how irrational
the right wings austerity measures were “for the good of the country,” and "for our kids future." Check out the following frightening reality:
“I’d be lying if I
said … there hasn’t been a degradation of the learning environment,” said
Timothy White, the chancellor of the University of California, Riverside … Last
year, plans to open a medical school on the campus were shelved after state
budget cuts. Courses that used to require four writing assignments now demand
half that because professors have fewer assistants to help them with grading papers.
…Some say that the state budget crisis makes it necessary (to
make cuts), and may provide an opportunity for needed changes.
Needed changes? Are we talking about adding the latest innovative learning programs?
Not at all; those “needed changes” refer to cut, cut, cut. And it's all driven by pure dumbed down ideology.
Jon Coupal, the president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers
Association, which strongly opposes the proposed tax increase, said the
colleges should do more to show they are cutting spending, like reducing pay
for top administrators or closing programs that do not directly benefit the
state.
“We’ve had the luxury in prior years of heavily subsidizing
colleges,” Mr. Coupal said. “But like anything in California, the delivery of
higher education is not performance based. They’ve created new campuses and
programs based on politics and not need.”
And that’s the point isn’t it; spending on education is “based
on politics.” This is an attack on those snooty “liberal elitists,!” You
know; the educated. "Liberal” is simply thrown in for effect.
Just as contradictory; while universities are state economic
engines, Republicans are trashing them. But cutting them cuts revenue?
Nathan Brostrom, executive vice president of business
operations for the University of California, said the system was now in the
middle of the worst financial crisis since the Great
Depression. In the last year, the state has cut $750 million from the
system’s budget. This year, for the first time, the system receives more money
from tuition than from state aid … Over all, the budget is the same as it was
in 2007, when there were 75,000 fewer students enrolled. In recent years, many
campuses have made a more concerted effort to recruit out-of-state students,
who pay more in tuition.
That’s what Wisconsin Republicans want to do as well; bring in more out-of-state students, edging out our own kids.
The financial picture will grow even more dire if the tax
increase backed by Governor Brown does not pass in November. While poor
students are still able to obtain financial aid, tuition increases mean that
the state’s colleges may no longer be the best choice for the middle class,
said Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Charles B. Reed, the chancellor of
the Cal State system who recently announced his retirement said, “This is supposed
to be our work force for the state. We go down this road and we’re looking at
an ugly Russian winter for the economy.”
Which we can then blame on the next Democratic presidents policies.
