O.K. seriously, WTF is up with California? Why are we so dysfunctional? Can the California I know and love please secede from the California that is apparently running the show?
Our GDP is larger than most other countries in the world, let alone other states in the US yet we are 49th out of 51 in teaching staff expenditure per pupil in education, and that trend of lagging behind is pretty much consistent across the board in our school systems because of it.
We are currently cutting funding for most community based prevention and advocacy programs apparently unaware (or unwilling to acknowledge) the unintended (but completely obvious) consequences that lie farther down the road as a result of these cuts. Is cutting a state funded children’s health care for the poor really going to save us money or is it just going to send even more people to the already overburdened emergency room where the diagnosis and medication for a simple childhood cough can cost upwards of $1000 instead of $150 health clinic visit?.
The unfair irony of the budget prioritizations is the worst part. As we cut funding for after-school programs and family support services we increase the frequency of youth being tried as adults for committing crimes, thereby just shifting the money from prevention to a reactionary ‘solution’ to the problem.
It’s all so depressing and overwhelming, but there will be a gubernatorial election coming up in the near future, and it is not too early to start supporting a smart, progressive candidate (right now, I am supporting Gavin Newsome.) We cannot assume that another power hungry, idiotic republican won’t slip right in to the post just because of the failure of our current governor. Political complacency is a real threat around here—just look at prop 8.
No comments:
Post a Comment