Although the French revolution has settled comfortably into the catacombs of history, the eerily familiar specter of its most feared symbol, Madame La Guillotine, has managed to waft its way into California politics. Only this time, it’s not an angry French bourgeoisie that has his fingers tapping on the guillotine’s well-worn handle but Gov. Jerry Brown.
In November, voters will face the choice of either raising taxes or dropping the blade on California’s public education system. EC is facing a $7.3 million cut in state funding if voters reject Brown’s tax increase initiative, Proposition 30.
This has already had an impact on EC, forcing administrators to start trimming down the budget.
Even if Proposition 30 passes, the only real guarantee EC has is that it won’t instantly lose more state funding. This is better than nothing, but the consequences of the initiative failing measured against the benefits of it passing leaves a noticeable discrepancy in equality.
The choice to ask voters to approve a tax increase on the basis of saving education is nothing less than mediocre Machiavellian maneuvering on the part of the governor’s office.
The one issue most people seem to be able to agree on is the importance of education.
Parents know that a good education is vital to the success and well being of their children. People involved in business know that a well-educated population helps increase productivity in a state economy that was ranked the ninth largest in the world in 2012.
This issue’s ability to bridge partisan gaps has not escaped the keen eyes of California’s abnormally vigilant politicians who are using it to coerce Californians into something that both Democrats and Republicans find excruciating; parting with their personal money.
Granted, the condition of California’s budget is not pretty and politicians are confronted with hard fiscal dilemmas.
The problem lies in their choice to make education the political prisoner set for execution.
If the importance of education can be measured by Brown’s verbal support, than its neck should be the last one laid beneath the blade.
There is no easy solution to balancing the state budget but there is a solution for giving education a fighting chance.
The public can let their voices be heard through petitions, the media and letters to the governor, letting California’s leaders know that this type of political maneuvering won’t be tolerated.
They can shout from the rooftops that gambling with their children’s future is not an option and that anyone who tries it won’t have a bright political future.
They can whisper in Brown’s ear, telling him to banish Madame La Guillotine’s ghost back to the dark tomb of history where she belongs.
