Colleges trail prisons in funds (in Massachusetts)

[cthrumatrix]

Colleges trail prisons in funds
Report hits state cuts in higher ed
By Marcella Bombardieri, Globe Staff, 11/25/2003

For the first time in at least 35 years, Massachusetts is spending more on prisons and jails than on public higher education, according to a report released yesterday.

This year's state budget included $816 million in appropriations for campuses and student financial aid, and $830 million for prisons and jails, said the report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

"It says something very striking about the way that priorities have crept up on us," said Cameron Huff, senior research associate at the business-backed fiscal watchdog group. "You don't see the same cuts in corrections because there's nobody to shift the cost onto. In higher education, it's been students and parents who've been the shock absorbers."

Deep cuts to state spending on higher education have left the system of state colleges and universities in "profound" disarray, the report said, citing two eras of deep cuts that reduced state support to the same level as three decades ago when adjusted for inflation. Higher education appropriations were cut 29 percent between 1988 and 1992, and 27 percent between 2001 and 2004.

snip

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2003/11/25/colleges_trail_prisons_in_funds/

[ConcernedCanuk]

1. "spending more on prisons and jails than on public higher education"

. . why am I not surprized ?

and I would be curious to know if Mass. is alone in this respect -

somehow I doubt it.

'course Texas's costs would be proportionately lower, cuz they execute a fair bit

-alot cheaper than "keeping" dem prisoners for decades.

I'd also be curious as to the National budget comparison to the budgets for that misnomered outfit called the Department of Defence - ( WAS at one time named appropriately, - Department of War if I remember correctly)

:shrug:

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. That really is a sad state of affairs. n/t

[DBoon]

3. punishment replaces opportunity

as a key american value

[DS1]

4. yep, sure does suck! State schools are dying the death of a thousand cuts

Just ask any student.

[HawkerHurricane]

5. If that's true in liberal Massachusetts

What does prison to education spending look like in conservative Mississippi?

[The Magistrate]

6. A Suggested Slogan For This Situation

"D'ya think your kid's gonna go to jail, or go to college?"

[DUreader]

8. Inmates have more job opportunities, and competitive wages

competitive with third world slave labor that is

[R Hickey]

7. But we're winning the pot war. Isn't it worth it?

This is what we've saved the children for! Bigger prisons! Smaller schools! Yipee we're almost pot free! Praise the Lord! Who cares if a quadrupled prison population is bankrupting 38 states?

Amerika has the most non-violent prisoners locked up anywhere on earth. "Zero tolerance." Our enemies envy us for our freedoms.

America is also still number one in inflated perscription drug prices, highest in all other health care costs, first in pollution and first in garbage production.