Georgia Education Budget Cuts

Quick, let's Stop Investing in the Future!!!!

Or at least that's how it comes off to me.

Initially I tried to say I did not know enough about the budget issue to have a strong opinion for or against, but now, with my research, my firm position sitting on the metaphorical "fence" has been compromised.

On a national level the United States has seen falls across the board when compared to other nations in education. People like Bill Gates and Ann Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, believe that raising academic standards is the main way of keeping the United States viable in the world market.

As of 2008 the U.S. was rank 18th in education in the world.

Additionally it seems odd to take away from inner city schools in metro atlanta that are already hurting for money. I recall having duct-taped textbooks in high school, not to keep the cover shiny, but so that my textbook would not fall apart.

I have not been successful in obtaining a list of specific programs that I feel could be cut before reaching for money from education's pockets, but I know of some general standard budget draining programs that are probably not going anywhere.

And as we all know military and law enforcement budgets are out of the question. I'm willing to bet that our choked prisons contain more that a couple of prisoners who were convicted of crimes less than violent and whom pose no risk to anyone should they be released. That would definantly free up some money.

Frankly modern politicians get further with "tough on crime" rhetoric than they do with "let's raise taxes a bit or relax some of our silly draconian laws to make room for education investment. So don't look to see any officials running on letting people out of prison.

The drug enforcement question is obvious. i have been unable to obtain an estimate of the total cost of marijauna prohibtion on the state, but I'm willing to bet it would help pay for a few high school textbooks.

Honestly the first thing that comes to mind for me is an experimental raise in the cost of lottery tickets. If Georgia Lotto ticket sales already go towards college funding and HOPE Scholarships why not find that maximum price where revenues can be increased without decreasing sales of lotto tickets.

If one million Georgia citizens buy 1 ticket at 1 extra dollar per ticket that's an automatic extra 1 million dollars for education funding.

It's not the best idea but it's a start. And we are going to have to start somewhere.