Calling all georgia,usa residents!!!!!

1fish2fish

I don't know if anyone else on this forum lives in GA (well I know Vikki does).. but I really need your help.

The University System of Georgia is facing a $385 MILLION dollar budget cut. My school alone is facing 5.2 million in budget cuts.. we'll be most of our part time professors and maybe even some full time. In addition 5 programs will be cut if this passes. We're facing larger class sizes, increased tuition and fees, loosing some of our best professors, and many people may have to find another major!!!

So please if your a resident look up your senators and representatives in the state legislature and call or send them an email saying that you DO NOT agree with the proposed budget cuts. The future of thousands of students is at stake. A simple tobacco tax would more than make up for what they are trying to cut.

Many students, teachers, and staff all around GA colleges are protesting but even if you are not affiliated with a college you can help. Just let your voice be heard.

Please. I'm only able to go to college because of financial aid, if they jack up my tuition and housing fees I won't be able to afford to go to college and I'll have to move back home and change my major... I can't do that.

Say no to budget cuts for higher education!

Mean Harri

I would have to look in to the school and its practices before commenting on this. I do not live in Georgia but I am sure it's a nation wide thing.

As someone who enjoys tobacco products once in awhile I find it frustrating to simply state a raising of tobacco taxes. In a lot of cases these schools are mismanaged and money is spent like water flowing down a river. The problem that is developing is, rather than letting the poorly run and managed schools and businesses fail and be replaced with properly run schools and businesses, the government and society wants to "enable" the failure of such entities.

A recent investigation in to the 3 largest school districts in 3 counties here in CO revealed hundreds of thousands of dollars being spent, tax dollars that is, being spent of Starbucks, donuts, and food. This is unacceptable no matter where one lives.

I wish you luck in your plight. While I am not suggesting your school is mis managed or poorly run, many are.

1fish2fish

Its not a school thing.. its a State thing.. the State of GA is taking away funds from higher education.. it has nothing to do with the way schools are run. And I'm sorry but after seeing several relative die of cancer I'm not sympathetic to tobacco users. If they want to raise other taxes then by all means be my guest.. tax away... but don't just start cutting where its most important. People are losing their jobs and facing having to transfer schools potentially screwing up what they've spent thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars working towards.

Mean Harri

Good luck all the same. I can not read this anymore or I'll end up in trouble. Ending my responses let me just say this. It saddens and angers me as an American, to see another American say raise taxes for their own gain. Study with out bias what happened to government income when Ronald Regan lowered the marginal tax rates. You will likely find the opposite of what you were taught. There is the answer to your problem. Lower taxes not raise them.

Good day Jackie

Administrator

I'm really sorry to hear about the proposed budget cuts, 1fish2fish. I hope that things work out so that your ability to go to college is not impacted. I'm sure it's already been thought of, but it might be helpful to point out to local businesses in college towns what it might mean for them if there are fewer students to utilize their products and services and if the students that there are have less money to spend. Perhaps they can rally behind the cause as well.

Here's hoping for the best outcome for all parties involved.

dramaqueen

I'm sorry to hear about this. I hope that everything works out for everyone involved.

1fish2fish

Thanks guys.. its already happening. My biology prof.. who is a great teacher... told us yesterday that this is his final semester at my college. He and 32 other teachers and 22 staff are getting fired. Everyone is writing letters and protesting so we'll see what happens. I know one thing I will not vote for any legislator who approves budget cuts to higher education and I will let them know that in my letter.

On top of that 1,191 students will be losing their majors.. we don't know which so I'm waiting on pins and needles to find out. If they cut my major I have to find another school... and I really love this one.

aunt kymmie

Be glad you don't live in California. You don't know budget cuts until you've lived in this state. California has run out of money and the prospect of losing firemen, policemen...I think I'll have to vote in favor of cutting higher education in order to keep the firemen and policemen on duty.

1fish2fish

I am glad I don't live in CA. But people don't understand what happens when you cut higher education.. GA's main industry is agriculture its a $92 BILLION a year industry.. so know whats gonna happen now that UGA might have to do away with its agriculture and agribusiness programs? I'll tell you.. agriculture will eventually start to suffer because there will be no new innovations to help the agriculture business run economically and efficiently. Thats only one tiny example of the domino effect that could potentially happen.

PaperclipGirl

I vote for cutting welfare - or at least limiting it - it was never supposed to be a long term solution anyway but I know people (in California) that have been on it ALL their lives -

Education is the ONLY solution to getting better jobs and better quality of life.