We have become a bargain basement, discount society. I can remember back in the 1960's when the first "discount" store opened in my town. I believe it was called "Gibson's Discount", and they had lots of common things a few cents cheaper than our established local stores did. Soon we saw K-Mart's with their "blue light specials", along with the first Walmart's in the smaller rural towns, and then in the big cities, too. Today even the most exclusive retailers have non-stop sales.
Today everyone is looking for a deal on EVERYTHING. In recent years that mindset has moved into politics, too. Whichever candidate promises to spend the least, and cut taxes the most, wins! And by looking at the most recent red state/blue state map, Republicans are comfortably on top. But there are now unintended consequences to our cheapskatedness (take note Webster...new word) that we simply can't conveniently overlook any longer.
Today America's newest, most affluent cities and school districts still have shiny new schools and well paid teachers, but everyone else, not so much. Teachers in Kentucky and Oklahoma, and I believe Arizona and West Virginia, too, are on the verge of walking out. I heard an OK teacher today on the news say she has to work a second and third job after school, and she's taken in a roommate to cut personal expenses, just to survive.
Without PTA bake sales and carnivals and other fund raisers to help out, teachers would have absurdly few classroom supplies to work with. Recently my daughter, an elementary school teacher in an affluent Dallas suburban district, had to resort to appealing for help on a school fundraising internet site in order to get books for her small classroom library. REALLY?
If I haven't already lit your fuse, maybe this will: Most of this tax cutting fervor is thanks to Republicans. They want to cut taxes at all costs, damn the consequences. Then they look surprised when they try and recruit new high tech businesses to locate there and are told, "Sorry, but your educational system isn't producing students with the skills we need."
These cheapskate, tax cut Republicans MUST GO! The conundrum, however, is that I doubt Democrats have the cojones to do any better. Oh, they could, but they won't stand up to the bargain basement, discount citizen/voters we've become, either.
"I've got mine, F__K YOU!"
It looks like we're getting exactly what we deserve.
S
That's an interesting way to word it, actually. Sort of a "You get what you pay for" angle.
ReplyDeleteLouisiana prides itself on its low taxes,and I recently had to go there for a funeral. When we hit the Texas/Louisiana line, it was notable how much worse the highway got. I mean... not subtle.
In Dallas, just like my home town of Houston, the politically powerful folks have moved their kids out of the public schools. The main school district in Dallas is less than 10% white. This means the politically powerful folks figure they're already paying for their kids' educations so why should they pay for anyone else's?
It sort of depends on what sort of society we want, I suppose. If you want a population who isn't educated because they were raised with the blue light special version of education, well... that's the sort of people you're going to have around you.
That's right Harry. I'm more interested in spending our money WISELY than I am in cutting taxes. I'll happily pay more taxes IF I feel I'm getting my money's worth. Our priorities are all wrong IMO.
ReplyDeleteLike the bumper sticker: "It'll be a great day when the schools get the money they need and the air force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.
ReplyDeleteIt'll all come back to the bargain-basement discount society when they're old and sick and have nothing but a bunch of uneducated, resentful young folks to take care of them in their old age.
ReplyDeleteIsn't spending for schools mostly local, I have to think both parties have control of different localities, or is the problem only in Republican run districts? Is the problem new? Haven't Democrats had some control in the last 12 years? I do think we could do better in our education systems, I think the blame is not just on one party.
ReplyDeleteJoe....In Texas, at least, it is the state that allocates unding for local schools, and Republicans control the state House, and Senate, and the Governors and Lt. Governor's offices. And the tax cut, cut, cut Tea Party controls the Republican party. Every few years when we have a recession and state tax receipts are down, they cut back on state spending...fair enough...but they really gouge public education. They are cutting in a very basic, essential area where there isn't any/much meat left on the bone anyway. Local school boards are usually not elected by party affiliation, although it's pretty easy to see their loyalties. Yes, Democrats could step up and say something, but THE PUBLIC is now so "discount" oriented, they want a deal on their taxes in exchange for their vote. Neither party is willing to speak up and say "this is one place we can't afford to cut". Don't get me wrong, I don't want to pay more taxes than necessary, but I AM willing to pay taxes to fund those things NEEDED. Poor schools...no high paying employers want to come here...poor jobs. We need to think a decade down the road.
DeleteSounds like a State problem, in Jersey and many States it is more local, and poorer districts probably have more education problems which should not be, but it is not a Democrat or Republican issue, in fact, many of the wealthier areas are Republican and have the best school systems, which I do not favor; funds should be distributed better. My only point was and remains that spending or scrimping for education is not quite the function of any political party as it seemed you are saying.
DeleteThen why is it that the 4 states in the news recently protesting dangerously inadequate teacher pay are all red states?
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