Public education and budget expenditure
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished residents of the great state of Arizona! Today’s debates are dedicated to the problem of the public education in our state. Despite the fact that it might be tempting for some populist politicians to play with figures and get the cheap and short-living popularity by simply promoting the most widespread views on this issue, I rely on your common sense and strategic perception of the matter, so I’d like to explore this problem in depth.
This is not the first time that the problem of budget funding of education in Arizona has been brought to your attention. In 2000 the necessity of the increase of spending on education resulted in a boost of state sales tax, from 5% to 5,6%, which is a lot for all of us (WSJ). Last year the Governor pushed through a bill of spending another 5 billion dollars by 2020 on public schools. Will it help and improve the overall situation? I don’t think so.
I care about the future of the state, and this attitude does not depend on the fact is I am elected to the office or not. I take the future of my state and my fellow Americans quite seriously, so I’m telling you: there is time for innovation! Adding more money to the table will give us a temporary relief, while deducting it will most certainly result in a collapse of the existing system. Our job is to reform it.
My suggestion, and it is based on thorough economic analysis of the present situation, is to keep the budget spending at the same level for two years, and not to add any taxes or distract budget money from other directions of expenditures. It is in our power now to digitize the educational process to the level at which the education and tutoring process would be considerably cheaper than it is now. Electronic technologies would allow you, my fellow Arizonians, to perform permanent public control over the quality of the educational process all over the state, as well as control the spending of the budget funds. We all now have both the capability and desire to do so, what we now lack is political will. After being elected to the office, I assure that all these innovations will be implemented as soon as it is technically possible, and you will see the results almost overnight.
Digitization will bring the education closer to all motivated and witty students, regardless of their financial status. You will not have too ask yourselves, why you have to pay taxes, so that your neighbor’s boy would go to college at your expense. With reliable, respectable and innovative system of education, it will be available for anyone who is interested. We are opening a new chapter in the development of our great state, and we are doing it together! With your support and appreciation, we will surely make Arizona one of the most innovative and well-educated states nationwide! And for that we do not need billions of investments or lots of grey-bearded sages in ivory towers! I swear to lead you to the better future for our children, because they are the greatest asset, the greatest treasure of all!
Thank you very much for you kind support! God bless you all! God bless Arizona!
References:
Santos, Fernanda. Spending Bills For Arizona Schools Are Approved. The New York Times, 30 October, 2015. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/us/spending-bills-for-arizona-schools-are-approved.html?_r=0&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=U.S.&action=keypress®ion=FixedLeft&pgtype=article
Gabriel, Jon. Arizona’s End Run Around the Education Spending Lobby. The Wall Street Journal,27 November, 2015. Web. Retrieved from: http://www.wsj.com/articles/arizonas-end-run-around-the-education-spending-lobby-1448656992
