I couldn't help but follow the budget negotiations of the Pennsylvania State Assembly as well as the Governor Edward Rendell lately, and to be honest...I'm not sure which branch of state government is more depressing! Obviously, we are in a recession unlike any since the greatest generation, but our legislators are biting off the hand that feeds them, and taking the state back to a level of culture, health, arts, and children programming that models itself on a draconian state. Just in case anyone was not fully aware, a few of the funding cuts include:
-All historical and museum funding to non state owned institutions (with a notable exception of Carnegie in Pittsburgh and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia...hmmm...Rendell's from Philadelphia isn't he?).
-Funding to Public Television (so much for the only family friendly or educational television for those who are not wealthy enough to afford cable or satellite.
-A portion of library funding (oops...can't go to the library when PBS has to cut broadcasting)
-A significant portion of funding to mental health programs within the state (not state mental hospitals, but programs to make those mildly mentally handicapped better able to live independently)
-Effectively making the PA Council on the Arts a non funded agency
These are just a few of the most recent to come out of the State legislature. Can someone please tell me how some of these are on here? Doesn't cutting museum funding decrease hours and thus harm tourism (one of the state's biggest industries)? With tourism in decline, then doesn't local business in those areas suffer? Make less income? Pay less taxes?
Doesn't cutting funding to libraries and Public Television significantly reduce education and literacy? What do we do when these children cannot read as well? More funding is then needed for schools to make up the difference? And those who drop out? Get into trouble? Legal fees? Court Costs? Public Defenders? Prisons?
Doesn't cutting mental health programs cause more individuals to not lead productive lives? Need more care? More state provided care?
Surprisingly enough...there is a cycle to this! We might want to think about asking our legislators if they have thought that far ahead...after all...if not we might all be moving that far behind.
A few things to think about.
Respectfully,
-Mr. Jackson
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A correction to my last post...the PA House has added 2 million in funding to the museum assistance line item in the state budget...It's not everything, but a start I suppose.
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