a reduced deficit budget restrictions in the US but at what cost? Discussions economy extremes in political opinion government expenditure how to foster economic prosperity how to reduce the deficit inflation and higher tax kids News, information, issues, discussions, solutions. News, information, issues, discussions, solutions. people politics reducing the deficit relationships the budget the economic recovery the economy in 2011 the global recession US citizens US government where to reduce the deficit

A Reduced Deficit, but at What Cost?

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Budget restrictions are in inevitable consequence of a recession, especially one which is itself the result of irresponsible fiscal management. Subsequently, society and its individuals are forced to endure several significant economic sanctions, which include sizeable reductions in public expenditure and also inflated levels of income and duty tax. While these are an accepted if much maligned aspect of economic recovery, there are serious questions as to how far governments should go to deliver financial stability.
This week, the governors of Michigan supported a move to close up to 70 schools in the troubled city of Detroit, with a view to halving the number of educational outlets in the region by the year 2014. This proposal is in addition to the legislation that closed 59 schools throughout 2010, and will mean that the average high school class would include an estimated 60 students by 2012. Regardless of the economic need, the question that needs to be addressed is whether this sacrifice is worth any amount of fiscal saving.

The Social Cost of Budgeting
This decision is been driven by a desperate need to reduce a vast $327 million school budget deficit, regardless of the cost to the educational well being of US students and parents. This is a government stand point, which states that there are bound to be unfavorable consequences of an economic recovery from a recession, and that the closure of schools is a necessary evil in the pursuit of financial prosperity. The issue with this assertion is that by doing whatever is necessary to secure a short term financial future, there is the potential of damage being done to the long term education of high school children.

Even if judged in the most objective of lights, this proposal seems short sighted and potentially divisive to the future of American society. While closing schools and making vast reductions to public spending are both quick and surefire ways to deliver economic progress, this is surely pointless if it creates a lost generation of students who are unable to contribute towards society when they reach adulthood. What governments are effectively proposing is an act that will preserve the nations immediate fiscal future for a generation who are unable to build upon it further. Given the fact that we are emerging from one of the worst global recessions of recent times, in theory this would a perfect time to consider modifying and enhancing the nations curriculum, especially with regards to teaching youngsters the value of money and the principles of economics. However, instead we are faced with a scenario where class sizes are set to double, with US students forced to compete for teaching assistance in conditions of untenable hardship. This is perhaps the biggest social cost of the proposed budgetary cuts, as the countries education system is facing steep regression rather than progression.

A Reflection of the Times
Though this issue is one that concerns the citizens Detroit primarily, it would be naive to think that this situation could not be replicated in poorer and less affluent states across the southern belt of the US. It is true that Detroit has suffered from years of educational and financial decline, especially since the much vaunted automotive trade began to unravel in the 1990’s, and it is reasonable for governments to assert that the extremity of this proposal is an isolated incident influenced by unique and geographical factors.

However, if a long term view is to be applied to the proposed legislation, then the school system and Detroit could suffer even further. If you consider that the local school system loses approximately $7,000 in state aid for every student that is forced to leave, it is possible that that the inflated deficit may not be impacted as much as initially thought. This would only worsen the developing cycle of decline in terms of Detroit’s education and prosperity, and ultimately afflict similar areas farther afield throughout the US. This situation is further reflected through the vast increase in home schooling throughout the US, where parents are choosing to educate their children through an independent curriculum within their own abode. There is already a negative perception from citizens towards education outlets and state policy, and this is not helped where governments reveal that they are keen to cut expenditure and budget constraints at the expense of quality education. Regardless of the financial necessity, to the layman this is an act of extreme negligence from a government to its subjects.

A Question of Balance
The latter point is important, for although the budget cuts seem extreme they are supported by many economic experts and responsible adults. Subsequently, they must not simply be dismissed as an act of negligence and short term thinking, and be considered from all aspects before they are condemned. It must be remembered that a government that failed to take decisive action with regards to the deficit would be similarly criticized, only a different faction of society with alternative needs and requirements.

This is the main issue facing a demographic government, who have to appease several elements of society, while maintaining the core values of democracy, education and economic growth. This is not an easy task, and therefore acts of extreme legislation are sometimes proposed to restore a distorted social equilibrium. The government have vowed that the recent proposals are to be undertaken while a long term resolution is developed, and while this is appears to be logical, they must ensure that their ultimated strategy is not undermined by the damage done in the interim.  

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