Meanwhile In The Ivory Tower
By: Doug Busselman, Executive Vice President
It should come as no surprise for anyone (except for those who might be living in a cave, cut off from any flow of information) that we have a slight economic downturn which is resulting in problems with people getting through. It seems that same problem of not being in touch with the situation is problematic for those who conduct their day-to-day in the Ivory towers of the Nevada University System. Those who spend do not and are not going to go peacefully into a reality where having less to spend is an option.
How dare we even consider such a perspective! Raise taxes, borrow money – whatever has to be done to provide for University spending – Just Do It!
That same attitude is ingrained in the entire educational community. PhD level types simply require the money available for them to spend to be “piled higher and deeper”.
Do we want a quality educational system? Of course that answer is “yes”…so far I’ve not come across anyone who considers not having a quality system (K-12 or Higher Education) as being something which should be strived to achieve. The issue at hand is not about that – it’s about having the money to spend and how much more of a burden should be placed on the taxpayers to provide for the funding requirements that spenders want to spend.
In many respects the impacts of the tax increases passed in the last legislative session are very telling. In spite of nearly a Billion dollar increase – the results delivered have been less than hoped for. An analogy regarding blood and turnips come to mind, but that would be lost on those who think themselves above having to exist with the rest of us.
During the 2009 Nevada Legislative Session it became extremely evident that those who spend Nevada tax dollars believe that those who pay taxes aren’t doing enough…regardless of the economic crisis we’re in.
Hopefully, this outlook will translate into a massive response in the November 2010 election and an entire new field of representatives who push the voting buttons during the legislative process. Until such time as tax spenders hear the voices of the taxpayers – we will continue to see how the self-perceived elite view their role…and ours.
It should come as no surprise for anyone (except for those who might be living in a cave, cut off from any flow of information) that we have a slight economic downturn which is resulting in problems with people getting through. It seems that same problem of not being in touch with the situation is problematic for those who conduct their day-to-day in the Ivory towers of the Nevada University System. Those who spend do not and are not going to go peacefully into a reality where having less to spend is an option.
How dare we even consider such a perspective! Raise taxes, borrow money – whatever has to be done to provide for University spending – Just Do It!
That same attitude is ingrained in the entire educational community. PhD level types simply require the money available for them to spend to be “piled higher and deeper”.
Do we want a quality educational system? Of course that answer is “yes”…so far I’ve not come across anyone who considers not having a quality system (K-12 or Higher Education) as being something which should be strived to achieve. The issue at hand is not about that – it’s about having the money to spend and how much more of a burden should be placed on the taxpayers to provide for the funding requirements that spenders want to spend.
In many respects the impacts of the tax increases passed in the last legislative session are very telling. In spite of nearly a Billion dollar increase – the results delivered have been less than hoped for. An analogy regarding blood and turnips come to mind, but that would be lost on those who think themselves above having to exist with the rest of us.
During the 2009 Nevada Legislative Session it became extremely evident that those who spend Nevada tax dollars believe that those who pay taxes aren’t doing enough…regardless of the economic crisis we’re in.
Hopefully, this outlook will translate into a massive response in the November 2010 election and an entire new field of representatives who push the voting buttons during the legislative process. Until such time as tax spenders hear the voices of the taxpayers – we will continue to see how the self-perceived elite view their role…and ours.
Posted by Doug Busselman at 12/9/2009 10:05 AM 
Categories: Nevada Educational Funding
Tags: Nevada Nevada System of Higher Education Nevada Budget
Categories: Nevada Educational Funding
Tags: Nevada Nevada System of Higher Education Nevada Budget
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