As Alabama took down Texas' scared and panicked freshman quarterback after knocking the Longhorns star quarterback out of the game on the first play (BCS bowl last night), I flipped channels between the game on Fox and Idaho Dialogue on Idaho Public TV. Several journalists talked with host Marcia Franklin about the upcoming legislative session at the updated and restored Idaho state capitol. I missed much of their discussion, but did clue in that the governor is due to announce further budget cuts, especially to education.
It would be great if the bowl-playing football teams at both University of Idaho and Boise State could transfer some of their winnings to the k-12 educational system. Boise has been on the move to build up the campus, the stadium and become a research university, and ditch it's reputation as a 4-year junior college. Football is one of the means to get more attention, and more money into the school to do so, and Boise State has made a huge investment in this strategy. I think President Bob Kustra is an educator at heart, and really wants to build the university into a top notch academic center.
It seems a circular process, though, that in order to build a nationally respected university, BSU will build a large and successful football team, which will then bring money into the university so it can build the sort of research facilities and offer the sort of programs that will then allow the football squad to move to a more difficult and prestiguous league (some of those UCs and top 10 regulars can't have their players playing against just any ol' state college opponent), which can then bring in more money for the educational goals (and the coaches pocketbooks).
One of my cousin's from CA just moved here to attend Boise State, and found that even with the out of state tuition costs, it is cheaper for him to pay those than to pay in state tuition to a CA university. I guess that's one of the ways to make more money for BSU too--more out of state students who pay more in tuition.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Daylight is fading fast. Dogs are eager to get outside, play, run. Work day is through. I think about how lucky I am to have a job in today's economy. Grateful too for the flexible schedule and opportunities I have.
But many others are not so fortunate today. I wonder how we build a sustainable, locally independent economy. Regional economic fiefdoms?
If I don't buy my furnace air filter at Home Depot, and I don't want to buy one made in China or abroad elsewhere, do I have to learn how to make my own? Find a creative local handyman who can make it for me, and wants to trade for my skills of design or fast typing? Maybe this seems a ridiculous question.
My brain is overwhelmed thinking of the problems and serious issues of the day. We are not the first generation to face this hardship, nor are we alone, nor are we suffering worse than others. Indeed, billions of people around the globe worry about how to feed their families today. Most have no social safety nets, and no dumpsters to scrounge from if desperate, or even a local breadshop to steal from, if it comes down to that.. Not that I'm advocating dumpster diving or theft as a solution, but if it's a matter of eating or not eating today, I'd go for the dumpster or the bread loaf under the arm.
Now I'm completely off track.
What will America look like over the next 5-10 years as our standard of living decreases as the standard of living of those who now are design and make goods rises? The purchase we made yesterday will seem a very inflated price within the next decade, for many the hole is already in the balloon. We are living with the surplus of our consumer lifestyles, and until the excess commodities--houses, clothes, furniture, knickknacks, etc are used up, the retail stores will continue to falter. I've seen a half dozen stores selling secondhand goods open in the past few years in my community while the first run retailers fail. Now we'll lose the only department store left in the downtown core, as Macy's shuts its doors in 2 months, after a 95 year run (well, not always as Macy's, but as a department store).
I bought my daughter's Christmas dress at a consignment kid's shop this year for $8. Why should I pay $18 or $50 as some stores were asking for a 4 year old's holiday dress that she'll wear a few times?
I have no conclusion in mind to rap up this post, so I'll end with this: anyone want to buy a size 5T velvety Christmas dress? Barely used.
But many others are not so fortunate today. I wonder how we build a sustainable, locally independent economy. Regional economic fiefdoms?
If I don't buy my furnace air filter at Home Depot, and I don't want to buy one made in China or abroad elsewhere, do I have to learn how to make my own? Find a creative local handyman who can make it for me, and wants to trade for my skills of design or fast typing? Maybe this seems a ridiculous question.
My brain is overwhelmed thinking of the problems and serious issues of the day. We are not the first generation to face this hardship, nor are we alone, nor are we suffering worse than others. Indeed, billions of people around the globe worry about how to feed their families today. Most have no social safety nets, and no dumpsters to scrounge from if desperate, or even a local breadshop to steal from, if it comes down to that.. Not that I'm advocating dumpster diving or theft as a solution, but if it's a matter of eating or not eating today, I'd go for the dumpster or the bread loaf under the arm.
Now I'm completely off track.
What will America look like over the next 5-10 years as our standard of living decreases as the standard of living of those who now are design and make goods rises? The purchase we made yesterday will seem a very inflated price within the next decade, for many the hole is already in the balloon. We are living with the surplus of our consumer lifestyles, and until the excess commodities--houses, clothes, furniture, knickknacks, etc are used up, the retail stores will continue to falter. I've seen a half dozen stores selling secondhand goods open in the past few years in my community while the first run retailers fail. Now we'll lose the only department store left in the downtown core, as Macy's shuts its doors in 2 months, after a 95 year run (well, not always as Macy's, but as a department store).
I bought my daughter's Christmas dress at a consignment kid's shop this year for $8. Why should I pay $18 or $50 as some stores were asking for a 4 year old's holiday dress that she'll wear a few times?
I have no conclusion in mind to rap up this post, so I'll end with this: anyone want to buy a size 5T velvety Christmas dress? Barely used.
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