The Budget Cuts Education, Health Care, & Human Services--What's Left?
I am distressed by what the current economy and more specifically the recently passed state budget are doing to our children. Today my daughter called me from Pullman where she is attending Washington State University. She was in tears because her teachers had just informed her that her department (Theater & Dance) will be eliminated due to the cuts in state funding of higher education. The degree program into which she has invested two years of time and many thousands of dollars will no longer be offered, and she is so demoralized by the shock of this announcement that she wonders whether there is any reason even to continue attending her daily classes.
While some may argue that WSU is justified in cutting the humanities because it is a scientific research-based institution, it is nonetheless true that an education in the humanities must include the arts, theater and dance. Without them, any pretense at "world-class" education is a sham.
The theoretical, ethical and philosophical basis for a liberal arts education at the university level is to create a whole, universal, person. You cannot excise the liberal arts from the university curriculum without removing the foundation of what constitutes a university education. On the Governor's web page, these words appear: "A crisis like this is a test of our basic values. We can't let tough times become an excuse for sacrificing the things that matter most to our families -- the safety of our communities, access to high-quality health care, and a world-class education for our children." It seems to me from reviewing the budget that was just passed in the legislature that we have in fact done just that--we have sacrificed what matters most. 40,000 fewer people will have access to health care, class sizes will be larger across the state at all educational levels, and access to critical human services will be curtailed to those who need it most at a time when need is on the rise. PLEASE WRITE TO GOVERNOR GREGIORE and urge her to call a special session of the legislature and to insist that they work even harder to avoid these devastating cuts. If it means that we must use the "rainy day fund," so be it. World-class economists agree: this is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. How much more rain can we stand? If it means we must consider a progressive income tax (instead of the regressive sales tax we have), so be it. I'd rather pay more in taxes than watch our children fail.
The Budget Cuts Education, Health Care, & Human Services--What's Left? | 4 comments (4 topical)
The Budget Cuts Education, Health Care, & Human Services--What's Left? | 4 comments (4 topical)
|
Recommended Diaries
Recent Diaries
A Simple Question for Gary Randall and Larry Stickney
By Lurleen (1 comments)
The Numbing Numericals of Referendum 71
By Lurleen (2 comments)
Washington Media Slams Referendum 71 but Misses the Truth About Domestic Partnerships
By Lurleen (4 comments)
Take Action-Call Sen. Cantwell
By monam (0 comments)
Decline to Sign Referendum 71
By Lurleen (5 comments)
Gary Randall Sees What He Wants to See
By Lurleen (0 comments)
Gary Randall's Fundraising Shell Game
By Lurleen (0 comments)
Seattle May 30th Healthcare Rally
By chadlupkes (2 comments)
Seattle Selecting New Math Books
By ktkeller (4 comments) Washblog RSS FeedsPolitical ContactsLocal MediaCoastal/Grays HarborAberdeen Daily World Chinook Observer Montesano Vidette Pacific County Press Willapa Harbor Herald KXRO 1320 AM Olympic Peninsula Peninsula Daily News Bremerton Sun Bremerton Chronicle Gig Harbor Gateway Port Orchard Independent Port Townsend Leader North Kitsap Herald Squim Gazette Central Kitsap Reporter Business Examiner KONP 1450 AM Sound and Islands Anacortes American Bainbridge Review Voice Of Bainbridge San Juan Journal The Islands' Sounder Whidbey NewsTimes South Whidbey Record Stanwood/Camano News Vashon Beachcomber Voice Of Vashon KLKI 1340 AM North Puget Sound Bellingham Herald The Northern Light Everett Herald Skagit Valley Herald Lynden Tribune The Enterprise Snohomish County Tribune Snohomish County Business Journal The Monroe Monitor The Edmonds Beacon KGMI 790 AM KELA 1470 AM KRKO 1380 AM Central Puget Sound King County Journal Issaquah Press Mukilteo Beacon Voice of the Valley Federal Way Mirror Bothell/Kenmore Reporter Kirkland courier Mercer Island Reporter Woodinville Weekly Greater Seattle Seattle PI Seattle Times KOMO TV 4 KIRO TV 7 KING 5 TV KTBW TV 22 KCTS 9 UW Daily The Stranger Seattle Weekly Capitol Hill Times Madison Park Times Seattle Journal of Commerce NW Asian Weekly West Seattle Herald North Seattle Herald-Outlook South Seattle Star Magnolia News Beacon Hill News KIRO 710 AM KOMO AM 1000 KEXP 90.3 FM KUOW 94.9 FM KVI 570 AM South Puget Sound The Columbian Longview Daily News Nisqually Valley News Lewis County News The Reflector Eatonville Dispatch Tacoma News Tribune Tacoma Weekly Puyallup Herald Enumclaw Courier-Herald The Olympian KAOS 89.3 FM KCPQ 13 KOWA FM 106.5 UPN 11 Cascade/Okanogan Ellensburg Daily Record Levenworth Echo Cle Elum Tribune Snoqualmie Valley Record Methow Valley News Lake Chelan Mirror Omak chronicle The Newport Miner Spokane/Palouse The Spokesman-Review KREM 2 TV Spokane KXLY News 4 Spokane KHQ 6 Spokane KSPS Spokane Statesman-Examiner Othello Outlook Cheney Free Press Camas PostRecord The South County sun White Salmon Enterprise Palouse Boomerang Columbia Basin Herald Grand Coulee Star Walla Walla Union-Bulletin Yakima Herald-Republic KIMA 29 Yakima KAPP TV 35 Yakima KYVE Yakima Wenatchee World Tri-City Herald TVEW TV 42 Tri-cities KTNW Richland KEPR 19 Pasco Daily Sun News Prosser Record-Bulletin KTCR 1340 AM KWSU Pullman Moscow-Pullman Daily News |