[Speed Gibson,
Friday March 28, 2008 at 10:21pm]
Education Funding: Resolve
This is the last of three parts. In Part One I inferred from events that K-12 funding is at best number 4, behind pork, light rail, and socialized medicine. Maybe it's 5th, given the stadium bills. In Part Two, I observed that for all the lobbying and politicking, nothing much truly changes. The record shows that whatever money is allocated is spent.
If it's unproductive, why do it? Professor Paul S. Nadler once told the story of a big name accounting firm charging a large company $300,000 for their annual audit. Only they refused to certify it for some reason. "Why bother?" he asked. They were apparently uncertain how much they had or made, but whatever it was, they'd have $300,000 more without that worthless audit.
So why spend money on lobbying that ultimately changes nothing? There's no question that every public school district wants more money and lobbies directly and indirectly trying to get it. Only the amounts and percentages vary.
Take for example, the Association of Metropolitan School Districts. Near as I can see, this is a lobbying group. Oh, they have some other offerings, like Don Corleone also imported olive oil. They report using 4 registered lobbyists and somebody must be paying them. For what? Quit wasting time on them or any other such groups. Stop wasting your own staff's time on such activities. There's another way.
I guess I lied. There will be a part four.
If it's unproductive, why do it? Professor Paul S. Nadler once told the story of a big name accounting firm charging a large company $300,000 for their annual audit. Only they refused to certify it for some reason. "Why bother?" he asked. They were apparently uncertain how much they had or made, but whatever it was, they'd have $300,000 more without that worthless audit.
So why spend money on lobbying that ultimately changes nothing? There's no question that every public school district wants more money and lobbies directly and indirectly trying to get it. Only the amounts and percentages vary.
Take for example, the Association of Metropolitan School Districts. Near as I can see, this is a lobbying group. Oh, they have some other offerings, like Don Corleone also imported olive oil. They report using 4 registered lobbyists and somebody must be paying them. For what? Quit wasting time on them or any other such groups. Stop wasting your own staff's time on such activities. There's another way.
I guess I lied. There will be a part four.