by Gayle Plato, M. Ed.

In light of July 1, 2009, new budget time clock, the bickering, the social spending plays and ploys, I look at the clouds building along the Northeast skyline of the Valley.  Arizona monsoon brings the heat, stuffy hot air, and lots of big thundering heads.  Many get scared of the cracking bolts- energy that lights up the night with terror and flash. I look at the clouds, a bit seasoned, and I know: this storm is all flash-point build up of energy with little real power. By the time the storm hits the freeway, it might be a sprinkle, some wind and dust cover.  I tell my son not to worry, rather I see a teachable moment about storms. But that’s the nature of things; parents help children understand that nature, while scary at times, is guided by principles and rules. It all blows by, one way or another.

In the light of day comes the reality. There are rules and guidelines in place for reasons. But, we are all voters of recognition and desire respect.  If spending gets out of control, the society “floods” unnaturally, with our money flowing out via the Community Chest.  All the structures are eroded away; natural function is supplanted by dictated regulation. There is no Pass Go card in this game. Years pass by and the programs grow to the billions of dollars with everyone justifying the system. Sooner or later a tipping point is inevitable. Liquidity dries up. This is a desert after all.

The Arizona Education Association might be one of the most vocal statewide groups regarding our fiscal budget.  They’ve been clapping thunder about the looming budgetary storm for months.  Yet, in light of economic crisis, one could hope to find insight and innovative ideas on how to solve the economic problems from a group of educators. Other than articles discussing President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and how it’s only a temporary support, I found a few opinion pieces.  One article currently featured at their website, written over a year ago, holds words of deep brilliance from John Wright, President:

“Property and income tax assessments are the pathway to a more stable system of taxation that produces consistent revenue. To invest in the future, Arizona should transition to a more forward-thinking tax structure. ” (Published: 03.04.2008, Arizona Daily Star)

Then there are some insightful videos with sarcastic innuendo but light on substance (see AEA page:http://www.arizonaea.org/news.php?page=395).
I don’t know if President Wright could pass the citizen civics test portion some AZ high school students bombed ( see story below on this blog), or whether he’s taken an economics class, but no one can promote taxes for growth, especially on a tax base shrinking at exponential rates.  Does Mr. Wright know that Maricopa County is GROUND ZERO for mortgage default?

All social programming is a big thunder cloud with little rain. The drought just gets pushed out a few months or year here and there. Very few systems can claim ANY success without requiring more money every fiscal year.  By the purest math of that, the programs are NOT cost effective. Only programming that is designed to foster personal responsibility and resiliency can offer any permanent value.  Think mentorship v. panhandling; we all know which one makes fiscal and social sense.  All of us not members of the AEA that is.

Moreover, as the state legislature, governor, and all lobbying groups fought this out, I ask AEA members, and any other social agencies shouting loudly, what ideas did you have that made ANY fiscal sense OTHER than taxing money that does not exist?

I proposed the AEA get serious about thinking outside of the box and analyzing how to rewrite the Arizona Lottery funding; the Goldwater Institute developed in-depth analysis about paying teachers much more while creating a cutting edge standards requirement for those teachers.  Flat-tax, rainy day funds, creative financing, selling district school buildings, sub-contracting programs and administration all have been proposed by MANY groups and citizens. Where is just one unique idea coming out of the AEA?

It’s so easy to clap, stomp, and blow hot air.  John Wright owes it to his members, scared educators literally waiting on chair edges to see if their districts are going to be able to keep them as employees, to explain what actual good the AEA did this last year to help solve the crisis. Other than insipid videos and poorly written op-eds, it’s all been blustery blow with nothing more than drips.