Maybe a dumbass idea to you. That dumbass idea is going to pay for my kid's tuition. So, at least here, I must not be a dumbass... no?? Sorry - I didn't mean it was a dumbass idea for you to use it. It was a dumbass idea for the state to offer it. It was one of those programs that makes no sense financially but is politically popular so it passed. It's government inefficiency at its best. The state could offer everyone free tuition too, and that would be great for you and me. However, it would be a dumbass idea for the state, though, since it would cause the state financial system to collapse. This is not really that much different in terms of its financial logic.
Of course. Federal government cuts taxes, cuts programs, decides not to help the states through their (9/11 and economy created) fiscal crises which forces the states to cut funds from education (my school took a 19% hit on state funds this fiscal year).
Then you're saying that Federal funds that would normally make it to Texas Universities were definitely reduced? (BTW, CLHS - 1979)
All of those funds tend to domino into one another. Reducing federal funding to Texas helped exacerbate the deficit in Texas, which they alleviated by reducing funding to, among other things, colleges throughout the state. In addition, they reduced funding that will end up being replaced by increased county and city funds. It was mostly the state's budget issues that reduced funds to community colleges including mine, but the taxpayers are the ones who will end up paying more for college, effectively increasing their taxes to make up for the reduction in taxes at the federal level. Unfortunately, I did not see any reduction in my taxes despite being solidly in the middle class, but now I will be unable to afford to attend classes because of the tuition increases. Thanks Mr. Perry.
Do any of you remember the highly touted "block grants" to the states? "Let's let the states decide how to spend the money, not the Federal government!" Well, the block grants were less than what the states had been getting through Federal programs they were supposed to replace. And they got smaller, with inflation, over time. So the states are faced with a financial crisis partly brought on by Republican "reform" at the Federal level. All of this trickles down to the local level. The states cut services that are ultimately picked up by the counties and municipalities. Or the needy just don't get the services they need. Or both. And your local taxes go up. Andy, if the Democrats don't come up with a winner to run against Perry in (shudder... it's so far away) '06, I may vote in a Republican primary for the first time. Perry is an incompetent fool, and that's the nicest thing I can say about him. Strayhorn looks like his strongest challenger right now, unless Kay Bailey jumps in.
Colleges have themselves to blame. Their accounting is atrocious. Colleges all over the country have been raising tuition for years and they still can't balance the budget. Sad. There was an eye opening US News and World Report article on the situation. Accountants could not figure out the mess.
All of those funds tend to domino into one another. Reducing federal funding to Texas helped exacerbate the deficit in Texas, which they alleviated by reducing funding to, among other things, colleges throughout the state. In addition, they reduced funding that will end up being replaced by increased county and city funds. It was mostly the state's budget issues that reduced funds to community colleges including mine, but the taxpayers are the ones who will end up paying more for college, effectively increasing their taxes to make up for the reduction in taxes at the federal level. Unfortunately, I did not see any reduction in my taxes despite being solidly in the middle class, but now I will be unable to afford to attend classes because of the tuition increases. Thanks Mr. Perry. Couple of things ... (1) If you're arguing that the state had to cut funds because of cuts in federal funds coming in, why is Perry to blame? (2) You definitely saw a tax cut in the middle class. The rates are flat-out lower - there's simply no way, if you're in any bracket above maybe the 10% bracket, that you got no tax cut. (3) The extra couple of hundred dollars that college is going to cost this year is preventing you from taking classes? I think that's a bit of a reach. Right now, the tuition hike at UT comes out to an extra $1 per day per class for a year. That can easily be overcome by loans, one week of work, work-study, or simply smarter budgetting. Nobody is being denied the opportunity to go to college as of yet due to these tuition hikes.
Colleges have themselves to blame. Their accounting is atrocious. Colleges all over the country have been raising tuition for years and they still can't balance the budget. Sad. To be fair, their costs are rising at ridiculous rates to keep up with private schools - mostly in the form of technology. Just in the past few years, I think UT has wired all their dorms with high-speed internet, added wireless access throughout the campus, etc. So while costs are rising, the quality of product is rising as well.
Yes, they are incorporating new technology and improving the product. But they should be able to have cost savings elsewhere by trimming unnecessary parts. The administration costs alone take up quite a chunk. They should be able to deal with slower growth, just like any other business, organization, etc. can. (I tried to dig up that US News article unfortunately I have to pay).
Major, right now I'm too worried about Cat being traded to Boston for a box of donuts to get into it yet again, but have you been following the state's budget crisis during the last budget cycle at all?
Major, right now I'm too worried about Cat being traded to Boston for a box of donuts to get into it yet again, but have you been following the state's budget crisis during the last budget cycle at all? Yeah - I worked for Craddick's education advisor this summer.
All these damned frills they give collegians these days are absurd, when I was there, about a decade or so ago, we didn't have fancy ass high speed internet connections or any of that sh-t. We had 4 freaking cinder block walls and a dirty, filthy disgusting community bathroom. But we were able to have fun, it just took a lot of beer and a little creativity.
You shouldn't make jokes like that, Major... I might take you seriously and go nutty. I actually still work there maybe a few hours a week. I had to do a summer internship for the program I'm in, so that was it! Interesting to be in that environment, especially with all the redistricting fun! I didn't work on any higher-ed issues though. I focused just on public school finance stuff.
And what's with these MP3s? In my day, data was uncompressed. And we liked it that way. And what's up with Marilyn Manson? Back in my day, we had Alice Cooper, and he was perfectly Satanic enough for us. Thank you very much. Geez. Kids today.
My wife works for the Lege. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I hear all the time that doesn't go out for public consumption... or maybe you would. How do you maintain your sanity? And what's your major, Major? Go to the LBJ School?
My wife works for the Lege. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I hear all the time that doesn't go out for public consumption... or maybe you would. How do you maintain your sanity? And what's your major, Major? Go to the LBJ School? I actually kinda of stayed to the side, so I didn't get too much of the inside stuff at the Capitol. Yeah - I'm at the LBJ School right now. That's really where I've gotten the opportunity to get a different perspective. It's been really funny listening to people here bash grad schools as "Ivory Towers" ... Right now, two of my professors include the ex-chief of the CIA Office of Counterintelligence and the commander of the Army in Europe during the Bosnia stuff (worked under Clark). There's nothing classified, of course, but it's neat to see and hear some of the stuff that's just not covered in the media and get a sense of how these guys look at the world, given all the things they know and can't really share.
The LBJ School is excellent. My wife works with and knows several graduates. Good choice. Tough time to have a career in government, but this current climate will pass.
Major, congrats on the LBJ school. Quite a few years ago I thought of trying to go there. How many students are there? What types of jobs do they tend to get later? For some reason you don't hear as much about it as in years past. Do you have many sterotypical government hater types going there with their goal of defunding government? Certainly you have many of them running for office. It always seems strange for me to see people who profess to hate just about all government and claim it can't do hardly anything right , so eager to run for office.
