As you all know, higher ed isn’t sequestered from this thing called “sequester,” and it’s taking a big hit — an estimated $86 million in cuts that will hurt mostly lower- and middle-class students dependent on federal grants and work-study programs.
It’s hard to like either Congress or the Obama administration for this sequestration nonsense. The manufactured budget cuts were intended to be so onerous, in theory, that both sides would be forced to come to their senses and “do the right” thing.
Instead, the small government advocates in Congress love the macho masochism of doing nothing and can think of nothing better than to blame President Obama.
Meanwhile, the blame game seems to suit the president just fine for now, though he should be pointing out that there’s a better way toward an improved economy than the forced austerity of sequester (look how that worked in Europe). Instead of finger-pointing, Obama should be making the case that more government spending actually propels the middle class and the country toward prosperity. And that government as an employer can be more effective than the private sector in getting us back on track.
But he must figure that’s way too logical for the GOP, which holds on to discredited trickle down ideas that justify tax breaks for the rich while making all the rest of us pay.
So far, I don’t sense much indignation on anyone’s part. More of a resignation that this is how it’s supposed to work.
That’s too bad. Because the pain is coming over time as the federal money flow stops. Will we appreciate so-called “big government” then? Or will the “small government” folks win out and force all of us to accept a diminished democracy?
