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The tax burden *is* too high, but it's not just taxes. It's also a workforce that has some of the the lowest education levels in New England. It's a populace that clings to faded visions of factory jobs as the road to prosperity and who are thus unprepared to compete in a new economy. It's a regulatory environment that makes it difficult for builders to construct new homes and new retail development to take place. It's a population which is willing to spend too much on state employee benefits and not enough on infrastructure like roads, bridges, and expanding the state's main airport.
"One of the lowest education levels in New England".
Now, I'm not taking away from what you said. It is a true statement. But saying Rhody has one of the lowest education levels in New England is like saying "He is one of the worst students at Harvard."
"One of the lowest education levels in New England".
Now, I'm not taking away from what you said. It is a true statement. But saying Rhody has one of the lowest education levels in New England is like saying "He is one of the worst students at Harvard."
Sorry, but that analogy isn't even close to being accurate- maybe a correct analogy would be like saying " he's one of the worst students at CCRI" not Harvard. There are so many illiterate kids graduating from RI schools it's appalling.
Pattig, I am willing to guess you haven't been to very many other states. If you have, you weren't paying much attention.
I'm also willing to guess you ignored the study that was released last week showing that Rhode Island Highschoolers scored consistently above the national average in English and History.
Admittedly, we are not so great in mathematics, but even that is only in comparison with Vermont and New Hampshire.
Now, I'm not taking away from what you said. It is a true statement. But saying Rhody has one of the lowest education levels in New England is like saying "He is one of the worst students at Harvard."
According to U.S. census bureau data available here: http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/c2kbr-24.pdf
(page 3 of the report has the key graph), RI education levels are almost identical to the U.S. national average. "Average" won't cut it when your next door neighbors and closest competing states -- MA and CT -- are the leaders of the class. RI simply has too many uneducated people; only Maine trails the Ocean State in New England.
I'm also willing to guess you ignored the study that was released last week showing that Rhode Island Highschoolers scored consistently above the national average in English and History.
Admittedly, we are not so great in mathematics, but even that is only in comparison with Vermont and New Hampshire.
RI needs more people with useful (i.e. non-liberal arts) bachelors and advanced degrees. One of the reasons the state doesn't have them is because tuition is VERY high at state colleges, providing a disincentive for kids to go to college. One of the main reasons there's high tuition is because the state spends too much on state employee benefits/pensions and social welfare programs, and not enough on higher education.
Pattig, I am willing to guess you haven't been to very many other states. If you have, you weren't paying much attention.
I'm also willing to guess you ignored the study that was released last week showing that Rhode Island Highschoolers scored consistently above the national average in English and History.
Admittedly, we are not so great in mathematics, but even that is only in comparison with Vermont and New Hampshire.
No Rnrboy I have lived in three other states and if you think RI schools scoring above the national average is good well that's just wrong. Most of our students are consistently lacking in English, the sciences, and mathematics. Most high school graduates in this state can not even write a proper essay. We don't challenge our students enough. I have put 1 child completely through the RI school system, my other two through the Alaska system. When children have trouble in school academically there really is no willingness for the school systems to lend a helping hand for these kids. The parents are expected to bridge that gap, which I'm not saying parents shouldn't help their kids out, but it should be the school's responsibilites to recognize when there might be academic issues either from a disability or just behavioral issues, and those issues are ignored and those kids fall through the cracks. I have personal experience with this. You are comparing our schools to Florida schools where my exteded family has lived for 30 years and there are many issues with the schools down there, but if you think it's a lot better up here you're wrong. Unless you can afford to live in one of the affluent communities in RI ( Barrington, East Greenwich) it's difficult for kids to get the quality of education that our Ma and Ct students are getting.
I thought it had already been explained that the Don has been cutting social programs consistently, and that the capital gains tax has also been cut.
It's like going around in circles here. We obviously need som fresh new ideas, not generic 80's Reagan Voodoo Economics.
We're NOT going around in circles. I am saying that social welfare spending needs to be cut MORE; that employee benefits/pensions need to be cut MORE; that taxes (not just capital gains taxes) need to be cut MORE.
And, finally, I would add that the governor can't do it alone. What is needed is a change of mindset among the people of the state. Divvying the economic pie up fairly is important. But first and foremost there must be policies in place that maximize the size and growth of the economic pie. Far too many Rhode Islanders just don't get that.
Oh the governor certainly can't do it alone. I've consistently said that the DINOS in the GA have been helping him slash social programs and provide tax giveaways to the well-connected every step of the way.
You can spin it til the cows come home, but that's the bottom line.
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Not an accurate analogy
As for Higher Education, we're well above average.
