Defunding education, more

Investment Analysis Clubs Macro Economic Trends and Risks
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The local news here has been atwitter about funding cuts and layoffs at Michigan State University. Of all the state universities in Michigan, State and U of M, are the only two that have shown an increase in enrollment, over the last ten years.

More on education being defunded.

The ##### admin is withholding over $6 billion in education grants for schools

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5453457/trump-school-funding-grants

Here in Michigan, one bunch runs the Senate, a different bunch rules the House. One chamber has an education bill that emphasizes armed guards and psych docs, while the other chamber’s bill promote diversity. Google AI’s synopsis.

House:

** Funding:*

The House has proposed a significant increase in per-pupil funding, potentially by eliminating funding for specific programs.

** Curriculum:*

The House has also included provisions that could penalize schools for maintaining diversity initiatives, allowing transgender girls to play girls’ sports, or having unisex bathrooms.

** Overall Approach:*

The House has generally favored a more streamlined approach to school funding, with a focus on broad increases rather than targeted programs.

Senate:

** Funding:*

The Senate has also proposed increased funding for schools, but with a greater emphasis on infrastructure investments and increasing educator compensation.

** Curriculum:*

The Senate has been more focused on ensuring diversity in the curriculum, with bills promoting the inclusion of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

** Overall Approach:*

The Senate has generally favored a more targeted approach to school funding, with specific investments in infrastructure and teacher support

So, impasse.

Some luminaries in the House wanted to take a chainsaw to state university funding.

Michigan House backs off major cuts to university funding while passing education budget bills

https://michiganadvance.com/2025/06/13/michigan-house-backs-off-major-cuts-to-university-funding-while-passing-education-budget-bills/

Steve

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Remember, the stated goal is they want people making T-shirts. If you have say, an engineering or fisheries degree, you’re not going to be satisfied with a menial, repetitive factory job. Plus college educated people, especially those with post graduate education tend to skew liberal.

So there is a lot of motivation to get rid of college education.

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Especially, as suggested here before, you can hire all the foreign “knowledge workers” you want, who were not only educated at someone else’s expense, but also work cheaper.

It’s a win/win for the “JC” class. Defunding public education in the US covers the cost of another big tax cut for them, and they can hire foreigners who do the same work cheaper than USians, if they had the education.

Steve

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I think we recognize that university costs have become bloated. A bit of belt tightening is in order. Also lower birth rates and declining enrollment mean less need for large campus. Less need for administrative overhead.

Traditional liberal arts degree is less needed. More practical training seems appropriate. International students should be welcome but numbers should be limited.

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I have posted before, a chart showing how Michigan has shifted most of the university operating costs off of state funding, and on to the students. If the (L&Ses) in the article above had succeeded in cutting university funding more, where do you think the money to keep the university going would come from?

Steve

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