A sorry state of affairs

by | May 16, 2014 | Editor's Blog, Education, NCGov | 3 comments

Last year, the North Carolina Republicans beat up on everyone–except rich people. Teachers, schools, universities, community colleges, the unemployed, Medicaid and food stamp recipients all saw a loss of income either through budget cuts or incompetence by the Department of Health and Human Services. Rich people and corporations, in contrast, got a huge boost in revenue because of tax cuts that benefit, basically, only them.

This year, an election year, Pat McCrory is being more selective. He’s finding love for teachers and even community colleges but he’s calling for 2% cut to our university system. The University of North Carolina system, you see, is just home to a bunch of elitist of only marginal political importance. Besides, Republicans control the Board of Governors and, to protect their perks, they won’t protest the cuts.

Fortunately, the system has Tom Ross as its president. Ross came to the position with a hefty resume that included director of the state’s court system, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and president of Davidson College. He’s got political savvy and deep ties across the state. He’s not going to roll over without a fight. We should all support him.

However, McCrory wants to divide and conquer by pitting the university system against our public schools and community colleges. We shouldn’t let that happen. We need all three.

Our educational system and our economic competitiveness depends on a three-legged stool where the university, public schools and community colleges each make up a leg. Shortening one leg doesn’t make the stool more stable and shortening all three makes it hard to even reach the table. That’s what Republicans have done.

The GOP rolled into town three years ago with a plan that was going launch North Carolina on a journey of economic prosperity and make us a model to the nation. They relied almost solely on tax cuts and deregulation. It hasn’t happened. All we’ve gotten is a struggling education system and a bunch of legislators who resent teachers, disrespect higher education and look down the poor. 

It’s a sorry state of affairs.

3 Comments

  1. mz michelle

    NC is a CHEAP money grubbing state. This state is constantly taking money from it’s residents. That 540 toll non-sense created by Bev Perdue was another waste of money. It’s losing money and many people refuse to use it. I know I do. Not only are teachers not paid well, but most other state employees aren’t either. Hwy Patrol and Corrections pay is garbage.

  2. Eilene

    Could you please NOT post that picture of McCrory anymore? I can’t stand the happiness on his face while so many suffer! It’s petty, but please…..

  3. Mick

    Yes, taking money from the UNC system to source a salary increase to K-12 public school teachers is just robbing Peter to pay Paul.
    Public school teachers need an increase, no doubt; in fact they need more of an increase than the Governor’s budget calls for. But cutting one sector of education in the state to put a quick and politically-motivated band-aid (it’s an election year and the GOP’s approval ratings have been hurt by the salary issue) on a problem in another sector of education is a shell game.
    It’s further proof of the GOP’s lack of vision and conviction on the importance of education in the state’s future. .

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