So I've written a lot
about disability issues, and while that is my main focus for this blog, I
thought I would expand it a little bit. To show you (the reader) that while I,
as a disabled person, am very aware of issues that concern the disabled
community, I am more than just a disabled person. Therefore, this blog post is
going to talk about something relevant to all of us as Americans--the recent
Government shutdown
Now I realize that you guys are
probably sick about hearing about this from talking heads related to media on
both sides. Because of the advent of cable T.V., the news media doesn't work
hard, but they repeat the same thing over and over again. They treat us like
Five Second Tom from Fifty First Dates. Five Second Tom is an
individual that we meet in the care facility with a five-second memory and
re-introduces himself every five seconds. The media treats us, the American
people, as if we don't comprehend what they tell us. As a result of this
perception of their audience, they are forced to reiterate the same things repeatedly.
The government shutdown was no different.
Every second, you would hear either
major media network describing what was happening as if the American public
wasn't aware. However, (remember the media stated last night) America has
gotten to the point where we ignore what goes on in Washington because
Washington has not become the little boy who cries wolf. Every other day there
is a "crisis," and in the Obama Administration, it's been the
Benghazi scandal, the IRS debacle, or the "fiscal cliff fiasco."
Everybody blames Obama for the fiscal cliff fiasco while playing a part with
his "Obama care" idea. I only call it Obama care because the majority
of the nation calls it that now. It's called the Affordable Health Care Act.
Obama is not the only one that caused America to be where we are at
financially.
Who do I blame? The answer is simple.
I blame our culture and our society. I don't blame capitalism. This is not a communist
rant or a push for socialism. It is a call for reason and logic! Let me explain,
and the best way I can do that is by using a note that I recently wrote on
Facebook in regards to a situation my University is going through.
"Okay, So I've never been a fan of authority. I always do what
people tell me I can't do. I guess it comes with being not your average gimp.
Lately, there's been a lot of stuff being said about how our University is a
horrible place, and don't get me wrong, I've had my moments when I disliked
certain things, but perhaps the federal government can learn from the hard
decisions that the University has to make right now. The fact is, no one can
spend more money than they make. I've learned that the hard way. No
university, government, or person is immune. A similar issue to the one our University
is currently facing occurred at my former school several years ago. At the
time, I was bitter because they closed the handicap personal care program. Back
then, the president presented similar economic facts to the ones Dr. W offers
below. Difficult choices had to be made, and they have to be made now. By no
means am I an advocate for everything my University does? I've had my battles
with them, but I have this to say as far as what's going on now.
Many
people have been complaining about here, and some of their complaints may have
been based on fact, but some, have not. When people are involved in a
situation, they do not often take time to look at a situation's facts. They/
only tend to see the facts that benefit our point of view. How can we bitch at
the government for overspending when we are not taught as a society that
overspending is not okay. The University has to make difficult choices right
now. They are not ideal, but unless we know all the facts, who are we to judge?
Just saying. Below is an email that every university student got. Most of
you probably ignored it because we tend to like to complain rather than deal
with the realities of situations. I thought I would include it below. Ms. W and
the administration will try to put the most positive information out there, but
at least they are presenting more facts than most people that I know who talk
about it.
Dear Students,
As our academic
leaders continue to explore alternatives to the faculty retrenchment proposals
in the Operations and Workforce Plan, I am writing to update the critical
discussions on our campus. I believe the open flow of accurate information is
the best way to reach the decisions we need to make together about cutting our
expenses, increasing our revenue, and positioning our University for a healthy
future.
Through talking with
numerous student groups over the last several days, I learned that our students
had heard a great deal of misinformation about the proposals and the impact of
possible faculty retrenchment on their education.
To clear up this
misinformation and calm any fears that the misinformation has created, I want
to share the following:
- The
Operations and Workforce Plan is a collection of proposals. It is a starting
point for the process of finding the best possible ways to balance our budget.
When a specific course of action is chosen – to save a significant proposed for
a moratorium or to act on a proposed cut, for example – I will share that
information with the campus community as soon as possible.
- Our
academic leaders are working with department chairs and other faculty to ensure
that cost-cutting has the least impact possible on faculty and students. This
process will continue throughout the current academic year. Already they have
made good progress on determining alternatives to eliminating faculty
positions.
- All
University students will be able to complete their degrees, even if their
program is placed in moratorium or faculty positions are eliminated in their
department.
- Our
Art Department is not being eliminated. Art is our flagship program here at our
University and a significant part of our identity. The only proposed cuts in
that area are eliminating five and a half temporary faculty and one regular
faculty position, which is vacant, out of an extensive department.
- I
am very hopeful that a way can save music and music education as majors. Music
is an essential and valued part of our campus culture. However, even if it can't
continue as a major, music will continue to be taught and performed at the University.
We will have a band, bagpipes, and ensembles. Students currently
enrolled as music majors will be able to complete their majors without
interruption.
- Cost-cutting,
including reductions in the size of our faculty and all other employees groups
to bring their size in line with our smaller enrollment, is unavoidable. The
University will spend $7 million more this year than it takes in through
tuition, fees, state appropriation, and other sources. Next year, we will spend
more than $10 million more than we receive if nothing is done to adjust our
costs. We don't have enough money saved in our reserve to continue outspending
our revenue beyond this fiscal year.
- Our
state appropriation is the same as in 1997, but those dollars have far less
buying power. Just as the cost of your phone plan or favorite foods
periodically go up, the items and services that the University must pay for
becoming more expensive over time. Our appropriation would need to be 42%
larger today to pay for the same things it did 16 years ago.
And finally, you are
free to express your opinion about the Operations and Workforce Plan proposals.
I encourage it. Your voice and suggestions are valued.
If you feel moved to
participate in a demonstration, that is your right, and I respect it. Another
productive way to express your opinion is to join the conversation on campus
about our budget challenges. The next campus-wide Budget Forum will be
held Monday, October 7, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in Pogue Student Center -
Multipurpose Room A. My next Listening Hour also will be Monday, from 3 to
4 p.m. in the Crawford Center Conference Room. Your questions and input are
welcome at both of these sessions. You also can share your ideas for reducing
expenses and increasing revenue on our online Operations and Workforce
Suggestion Forum using the link on [webpage].
This is a difficult
situation that demands that we face our challenges directly. Solutions to fix
the continuing budget imbalance created by reduced state funding and lower
enrollment must be creative but realistic. We must act decisively this year for
the long-term good of the University and you, its students. I continue to be overly
optimistic that together we can and will achieve the savings and develop the
new revenue sources needed to keep our University strong and make it even
stronger.
Best regards,
Dr. W"
The above note is a microcosm of a
lesson that both parties need to learn. If one who makes 500 dollars a week,
they can only spend 500 dollars a week. The government is acting like a college
kid who gets all those credit card offers in the mail. They think just because
we're allowed to spend into debt that it means we should. Now I am not an
idiot. I realize that this is not a Republican or Democrat issue. As I said
before, it is a societal issue. In the last 2 or 3 generations, we have not
been taught the value of saving and being responsible with our money. I am a
perfect example. However, until we learn this philosophy, we are doomed to
repeat the same course no matter what part is in power.
As far as shutting down the
government to get your point across, no matter what side you are on, I think
there is a crucial point or philosophy that the American people have learned
from this shutdown or should if they haven't. These officials there in
Washington, no matter what party they represent, were put there by us. We need
to take some responsibility and remember what special privilege we have on the
nation and how we have to change the system. We could act like my friends on
Facebook and continue to bitch about the problems this country has, or we could
radically alter the system. Whether it be radically transforming it for fiscal
change or disability/women's rights. If we let the system live as it always has,
we will always get the same results.
Take, for example, the bill they
passed to re-open the government as of 12:01 a.m. August 17. They only passed a
bill that would give us funds for 90 days. They didn't make any significant
changes. They are still squabbling over the same decisive issues that they have
been for weeks now. Because ideology thinks they are better than another one. I
do have some fiscally different ideas from others, but this is not the place
nor form to present them. If I did, I would be like every other talking head on
T.V. trying to present their side as the "correct" one instead then
trying to find the solution. This goes way deeper than whether or not I
represent an elephant or a donkey. My political party should not matter. As our
first president said, "A nation should beware of political parties"
because they will get us in the mess we are in now. What should matter is not
always being right all the time because not everybody will be happy with
everything all the time. So this is a call to Congress and Obama, but most of
all, to the American people. It is time to stop telling us what you want or
what you're going to do and do something about it! Put your ego aside, and
remember you live in a country with 316,869,000 people. It is not just
about what YOU want, but it is about compromise because no one can be king. We fought
a war because we did not want to be controlled by a king, so quit acting like
one side is right, and the other side is wrong.
I'm
getting off my soapbox for now, but the above should demonstrate that no matter
your physical ability, one could have a voice or opinion about critical issues.
People often see those with disabilities as "passive citizens." Well,
this piece should indicate that some of us are not passive at all.
study sessions or
whatever." So let me guess this straight, Mr. Cutler. You have perfect use
of your body, you have a god-given the talent to throw a ball better than 95%
of the people on this planet, and you get paid millions and millions of dollars
to do so. Yet you don't want to use your working ways to walk across a parking
lot?! Is that precisely what you are saying with your quote? Before you say, "Oh,
you're just some fan who doesn't understand, and you're a pion," let me
tell you a little bit about myself, Mr. Cutler. I am a 27-year-old disabled
individual who is confined to a power wheelchair. I have Cerebral Palsy, which
is a neuromuscular disability, which affects my motor coordination. There are
thousands of other people like many others and me who have different physical
disabilities—one of which works as a payroll clerk with your Chicago Bears. The
comment you made was made before your recent groin injury. Suddenly you have
had a change of heart! Now you demand that your beloved Bears have a golf cart
with an attendant at your beck and call. 