EDITORIAL: Nothing good comes free
The fight over education funding relentlessly continues each and every day, particularly over the passage of two propositions: Proposition 30 and Proposition 38. These controversial measures will be voted upon in California on Nov. 6. In essence, these two propositions function similarly—both provide a substantial amount of funding that will be allocated to California’s currently beleaguered public education system. More specifically, Proposition 30, pushed by Governor Jerry Brown, would give California’s public schools a gross total of $9.8 million a year, and Proposition 38, conceptualized by multi-billionaire Molly Munger, would raise $10 billion for the same cause.
The catch is that these funds need to be drawn from somewhere, and just like other efforts to raise money, these propositions will indeed raise tax rates on California citizens. Prop 30 would increase taxes on people whose annual income exceeds $250,000, and Prop 38 would increase taxes on anyone who earns more than $7,000 annually. As of a week ago, polling indicates that Prop 38 will most likely fail, but Prop 30 hovers in a delicate state of flux, hanging in balance right at the 50% support mark.
The natural proclivity of the common proletariat voter would be to walk into the voting booth, see an effort to raise taxes, and automatically vote no. After all, who really wants to see their hard-earned greenbacks siphoned away by an irresponsible government to a cause that is already doomed? (Hint, sarcasm.)
We could speak about the individual pros and cons of Proposition 30, but we are not here to proselytize. Rather, this editorial is a poignant reminder that, as cliché or as altruistic as it may sound, our education is our future. Call us idealists, but we think this is a cause important enough to invest in. If we are inadequately educated and unprepared for the real world, how will we be able to advance as a society? And for those of you who are thinking, “Well, I’ll be done with school by the time these cuts hit,” think again. How about your own kids? What about their futures? Even if you aren’t thinking that far ahead, when you are a business owner, or a doctor, or a lawyer – when you are hiring newly graduated but ill-prepared students who compose the new generation of poorly funded school districts, what do you plan on doing then?
From a national standpoint, although exact rankings differ, the US is nowhere near the top in terms of education. In fact, the US currently ranks 14th internationally, and within the US, California ranks 43rd out of all states for education and overall student preparation.
These figures indicate a clear need for intervention – yet why do we question what should be obvious? Sometimes, we need to step back and look at the world from a more holistic angle. We need to sober up and realize that in order to advance ourselves, we need to advance the common good.
Admittedly, the Californian education system isn’t perfect to begin with – dissidents, with good reason, have indicated that, in the past, the California legislature has shown an unfortunate tendency of irresponsibly using funds. But, just like the propositions the state, too, can be reformed.
Regardless, we still maintain that Prop 30 is the way to go. Why? Simple. To pass it would be to affirm that, no matter the current state of affairs, we can still at least attempt to make things better. To not pass it would be equivalent to leaving the status quo, in all its decay, as is. Yes, it will cost people some money. But nothing good comes without a price.
