Grumble, Grumble,

In case anyone didn't know what the UC's problem is, here is one major piece of the puzzle: The LA times reports that although the population of CA is quite happy with the UC, CSU and community colleges, they don't support raising taxes or student fees to pay for those institutions. Now, I don't want my taxes to be any higher either. Especially b/c I have the suspicion that they probably go into some administrative black hole of doom and only a fraction would actually get to the unis. But can't people see the logical gap between 1) wanting a first class-university system and the prestige and bragging rights that come with that, and 2) not wanting to pay for a first-class university system but being pissed when they don't magically get it anyway?

"To see that level of concern spoke to the degree people value these institutions they see as very important for the state's future," he said, adding that legislators should pay attention.

Among the survey's other findings: 77% of parents of children age 18 or under say they are worried about affording college and 69% say most families do not save enough for college; 89% are concerned about rising fees; and 86% worry about reduced enrollments and course offerings.

Legislators should pay attention? And what, comment on the state of the system but not do a damn thing to fix the problem of a disinvested UC? I hear the problem of not wanting to pay more for less. I hear the double hit of raised taxes to support the UC combined with fee hikes every year is pricing our state's population out of the state college system. And that fee increases will soon put a number UCs in the more expensive areas with poor commuting options * cough * Santa Cruz *cough * into the astronomical range when cost of living and housing is factored into the college equation (assuming, of course, that they aren't already). I hear the consumer crying out in pain b/c of the rising price tag - but I also see what these cuts are doing to our university, our faculty, grads, and students (or will see the students when I get back in the winter). We've been struggling for years and now parts of our university seem to be downright imploding. We've never been a richer campus - and now that I talk to grads at other, granted Ivy League, schools I literally boil in jealousy - but we're being gutted to the point where I have a hard time seeing where the UC Titanic is going to end up when the recession and budget nonsense are finally over.

I don't know what the answer is (this may be a first). I can see where throwing money a the problem isn't the answer, although the state universities are facing very serious and real budget problems and throwing money at us would at least get us back to the relatively easier problems faced, say 4 years ago. Maybe the whole system needs an overhaul in the same way it seems that most of our lurching-along 20th century systems need overhauls (health care, social security, CA's budget and constitution), but these days "overhaul" doesn't mean incorporating radical new thinking that would actually revolutionize the system*, it means "doing more with less" or cutting jobs and services in the name of efficiency. Is one of my profs right in his observations that humans always take the seemingly easier of 2 paths even if that path is self-destructive in the long run? Are we always willing to dancing with the devil we know, even if it'll kill us, because it's less "scary" than the devil we don't know? And if so, then can we get our the national myth that we're a great innovative, risk-taking nation that's wiling to work and fight for what's good, right, just, and true in this world, and just wallow in our terrified, petrified state of clinging to a sinking ship?

Note: I'm a little on edge today, it has to do with my stupid English equivalent of frat boy and g-friend neighbors who were so fucked up last night that they thought porno sex with blasting music at 2:30 am was a brilliant plan. I was jerked awake to groans and shrieks. Knocked on the door several times, no answer, followed by 30 seconds of silence and then the noise was back on. Lasted until 4 am. While there has been tea during my other mornings this was definitely a coffee morning.

*universal health care and access to education? we have several models all over the world we could look at... I know, I know, the spector of socialism is scary but you can't on the one hand scream "free health care! free universal access to education!" and not expect to pay for it from some where. It's going to be out of your pocket (privatized, more out of a few pockets with limited access based on the mighty $, race, class, and (perhaps to a lesser degree) gender) or everyones (socialized, less out of everyone's), unless the money fairy is making regular stops to your place and if she is can you send her my way and tell her to pay me in £s?