BCT Editorial – 6/7/06

This page was last updated on June 13, 2006.

Looking ahead; Editorial; Beaver County Times; June 7, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“It’s time to start investing in the future.

“The Community College of Beaver County has proposed $26 million in much-needed renovations at. To their great credit, the county commissioners see the worth of and need for the work and have said they will provide $13 million. That’s in addition to their annual $2.55 million contribution.”

[RWC] I know this is a difficult concept for liberals to grasp, but the county commissioners don’t “contribute” $2.55 million annually and won’t “provide $13 million.” Beaver Country taxpayers will provide this funding, not the county commissioners.

“However, the rest of the money must come from the state, and that’s where things get dicey. Throughout the years, the state, no matter which party was in power, has failed to adequately fund the commonwealth’s community colleges.”

[RWC] As with the county commissioners, money doesn’t “come from the state.” It comes from state taxpayers, meaning you and me.

“What those in power failed to realize is that investing in education is an investment in the future. Their negligence should come as no surprise. They also underinvested in infrastructure, which was a major reason the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the state an overall grade of D for its roads, bridges, dams, etc.

“At some point, Pennsylvania’s leaders must stop pandering to the present and start investing in the future. Thirteen-million dollars for CCBC’s renovations would be a good place to start.”

[RWC] Earlier this week we were treated to an editorial (Forked tongue; June 4, 2006) correctly complaining that PA Republicans had not reduced spending as they like to promise. Since then, we’ve read two editorials advocating increased spending. This is just another example of why I believe Times editorials tend to have no credibility.