Only in New York would you find a state facing a $4 BILLION budget gap, and a recommendation from the governor’s own appointed education panel to spend an ADDITIONAL $3 BILLION on our public university system. Let’s see, back when I went to school, 4+3=7. So $7B in the hole is better than $4B in the hole, right? Hello Alice! Where is that looking glass located again?

Here’s the opening lines from a story in today’s Press & Sun-Bulletin:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer declined to say Monday whether his upcoming state budget proposal would include a higher education panel’s sweeping recommendations, including a $3 billion university-research fund and providing tuition-free SUNY schooling to underprivileged students who meet the academic standards.

In fairness, the story says Spitzer has not yet decided whether he will adopt the panel’s recommendations as part of his budget, to be released on January 23.

A few more bits of information from the article:

The $3 billion research program would set up an Empire State Innovation Fund that would provide money to the best projects at public and private universities in physical science, bioscience, engineering and medicine.

The “Million Dollar Promise” program would pay tuition and unmet expenses for high school graduates in high-poverty areas and who meet the standards to attend a community college or a four-year State University of New York or City University of New York. Participating independent colleges would provide those students with special financial assistance.

I’m tired of paying my money so other people’s kids can go to college for FREE. Really tired of it. I’m middle class, and my kids don’t qualify for big-time financial assistance. I have to pay for it. Frankly, that’s what every family needs to do–pay their own way. But what about those poor kids from the inner cities, you nasty brute (you ask)? It’s called private charity. It’s called the work ethic. It’s called self-determination. Are you telling me they are being held down/back on purpose? That there are people who actively try to keep “the poor in their place”? That if I am not forced to open my pocket and give them money, they can’t get an education? Nonsense.

A quick history lesson. Our Founding Fathers recognized we have, issued from God (not from evolution and certainly not from other men), a few basic, inherent rights that cannot be taken away. Among them are: “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Declaration of Independence, 1776). What they gave us, our legacy, is a “chance” to be successful. They did not give us a “guaranteed outcome.” They did not give us an “equal outcome”–as in everyone should have the same end result. We are only given an opportunity, and it is up to each of us individually how much, or how little, we do with that opportunity.

Yes, some are born into abject poverty. Contrary to popular belief on the left, conservatives are not content to let people live in squalor. We want to see poverty eliminated as much as they. However, the difference between right and left in how to eliminate poverty is a chasm. Conservatives want to see people rise above their circumstances using their own determination and initiative. Sometimes it requires charity, a “hand out” if you will. But it should not last long. Ultimately, people must take responsibility for their own actions. And this is where liberalism disagrees. Liberals believe that the hard work and initiative of some–those they believe that have somehow received material blessings in a misbegotten fashion–should be forcibly taken by the state and redistributed to those “less fortunate.” Let me ask, how is this compassionate? How does this benefit those who are “underpriviledged”? How is it moral or just or fair to take money from some citizens and give it to others? Answer: It’s not.

It is only if you are willing to take responsibility for yourself and your own actions, and stop being a victim (of the left) that you will rise above your circumstances. Conservatives will be there all along the way to encourage you and help you. If you continue to take handouts from the left your entire life, you become co-dependent on them for your existence, which is just where they want you. It empowers them, makes them feel good about themselves, and ultimately gives them political control over your life.

Wake up! Better yourself! And get off the “financial heroin” being peddled by the left.

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