The Lexington Herald Leader is at it again: pushing tax increases in order to make higher education "more affordable" for people with low incomes.
"Chamber president David Adkisson presented the plan to a legislative committee last week without any cost estimates or proposals for paying for it."
"The chamber is on record favoring an increase in the state's cigarette tax while opposing more general tax increases."
"Barring an astounding economic turnaround, it's hard to see how Kentucky could afford this good idea without some kind of tax increase, restructuring KEES or both."
Politicians with an interest in free-market solutions to the supply-and-demand issues in energy would be totally consistent in seeking to tamp down demand for the college experience in Kentucky. More than half of our college students enter unprepared to do college work. Very few of them survive long enough to do more than artificially inflate the cost of going to school.
If we really want to make college more affordable, rather than just to raise taxes for another well-intended project, we need to raise standards in high school and graduate better-prepared students.
2 comments:
If the Lexington-Herald wants to make higher education more affordable for low-income people, why don't they push the Kentucky federal congressional delegation to legalize all things hemp?
Then let Kentucky universities grow, research, test and market the hemp products they develop.
For example, the University of Kentucky could grow hemp for charcoal to replace coal. That could be sold to utility companies to provide lower cost electricity.
The University of Louisville could grow hemp for medical marijuana that could be used by the Brown Cancer Center in experimental treatments for cancer.
All the public universities could grow hemp for recreational use - AKA "marijuana." That could be taxed and regulated for additional state revenues.
Too, since most universities have a sizable student population that are already acquainted with marijuana use, there'd be no lack of volunteer subjects to determine the optimal dose for recreational use.
Too, the universities of Kentucky and Louisville seem to have enough athletes sufficiently familiar with marijuana to assist in determining the optimal dose to maximize and enhance athletic performance.
Lexington-Herald, do you have any guts or anything you-know-what else? Psst! Do something!
Higher education would be much more affordable in this state if universities would focus more on attracting talent and less on construction projects.
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