My thoughts on why Wisconsin politics is frustrating

They are, once again, dire times for higher education in Wisconsin.  (why did we move here?  oh yeah - the weather!)

There's a hidden seed of hatred in my heart, one that used to blossom whenever I thought of George W. Bush's pointless war efforts; and now returns when I see a photo of our illustrious governor, Scott Walker.  He's just.... so.... smug.


So to balance an unfunded property tax cut (ooooo - we all got like $25!!!) he's proposing a $300 million dollar budget cut to the UW System, along with a tuition freeze for two years (so he can look good when he campaigns for president), in exchange for "some" freedom of the UW System to get out from under so much legislative control.

Well.... start saving that $25 now because you're going to need it when tuition at UW Madison goes up $5000.  I'd have to save my $25 tax break for how many years to cover that .... oh .... 200 years!  Well, good deal for me! 

Perhaps my kids would rather attend UW-Oshkosh who might raise their tuition a measly $2000. And live at home!  Wait.... I think none of us want that.

Sometime society decided that college is primarily a jobs training program.  And as a jobs-training program, the benefits of a college education go directly to the individual who receives the education.  Ergo - the individual should have to pay for said education since that individual is reaping the benefits.

EXCEPT - that when costs began to be passed off to the individual (or rather, their parents) we all threw a collective shit-fit about rising tuition costs.  Newsflash! The cost of educating people has not gone up.  Your state quit giving you a scholarship in the form of state support to your university system.

So - here's the deal - we cannot have our cake and eat it too.  It costs money to run a college.  We can privatize the whole damn thing and taxpayers can quit "supporting" those fat cat academics.  Let the market sort it out, but likely a quality education will cost about $20,000 a year.  (But think of all the taxes we'll save!!!).  We'll price out low income and place-bound students.  But that's OK.  I mean, if the return on an investment will pay out in increased salary, then the market will adjust accordingly.  And all those people who don't realize that.... well.... this is 'Murica and there's bootstraps and all that.  Besides, there's always factories to go work in.  Oh, wait.....

OR - we can keep tuition down by giving students within our state a scholarship (in the form of tax dollars from state to university) to attend the public university in our state at a subsidized cost.  We keep in-state tuition low and accessible to all residents.  Oh, we'll also be supplying businesses in our state with a healthy and steady stream of educated professionals to work for them.  We'll be richer because we'll have artists and businesses and low crime.  We'll be happier because we won't be pulling our hair out, concerned about how to pay for a quality education for our kids.  Terrible!!!  I have to give back my $25!!!


And - I swear - if I hear about ANYONE I know voting for Scott Walker for President - I may never speak to you again.  Republican? .... I can find you someone better than this cheesewad turd trying to ooze his way beyond the cheddar curtain.