Make College Cheaper by Spending More Money
Typical government way to solve a problem
After eight years in the Mississippi legislature, you would think nothing could surprise me. But when it comes to spending your money, the folks who we send to our state capitol have pulled out all the stops and excelled beyond anyone’s imagination.
A commission was established to study and research the rising cost of tuition at our state universities.
Do you know what they determined to be the best path to affordable college? You give them an additional $21 million. This panel of experts didn’t look at the rising cost of textbooks; they didn’t consider questions about why room and board have skyrocketed; and they never thought for one second that universities might be gouging our students.
The only answer they could come up with was that you, the taxpayers, would give them an additional $21 million, and they would promise to "reduce" the cost of college. Now, I don’t know how you do math, but an additional $21 million does not equate to cheaper college.
During the combined committee meeting of the House and Senate Education Committees, only one legislator questioned this ridiculous conclusion. All the legislators could do was contemplate how to get them the $21 million.
The legislators I witnessed were so interested in "smart" people liking them and thinking they are great that they refuse to question anything.
We must elect critical thinkers—men and women who are not afraid to question the "experts", men and women who are confident enough to have an opinion and voice that opinion.
That is not the average legislator in Mississippi. Unfortunately, what is rewarded in the Mississippi legislature is group thinking, sticking together no matter the outcome, and hiding behind a veil of deception.
Whether it's college tuition, reducing taxes, or fixing our healthcare system, legislators are afraid to say anything other than what leadership tells them to say. It's up to you to speak louder than leadership; demand your representative speak up and protect you.
When will the outside money to buy our representatives and senators be not allowed? My friend ran for the MS Senate and lost. But his opponent used $80,000 to win. Another friend ran for State Represenative and lost because of redistricting and outside the district money pouring in to keep an expert in contracts out of state government. Plus the Democrats voted in the Republican rprimary to keep Delbert the RHINO. They ousted the true conservatives.