Education in the U.S.: The Numbers

The National Center for Education Statistics shows on this graph how dollar expenditures per public school student - K through 12 - have increased from 1961-2 (the year after I graduated from 12!) to 2008.

3.7 times in current dollars.

An interesting question is how many more students were there in 2008?  I looked up the answer and there were apx. 35 million in 1960 and apx. 48 million in 2008 (I found numbers to be fairly difficult to find but believe these are correct).

That is 1.4 times as many students.

Therefore, total expenditures for public education have increased 5.18 times!  And as we see in Wisconsin, they want much more!

Todd earlier said perhaps technology is increasing these costs.  May have some impact but technology usually pays for itself through efficiency, etc.  So I don't think that is the answer.

Are you all happy with this kind of increase in expenditures?  Do you think it should be more?

"A Short Econ Quiz for the Super Committee"

Steven Landsburg tries to guide the Super Committee with a little "common economic sense"- explaining in a different way my views on Wealth Consuming and Wealth Producing.  Note the penultimate paragraph where he explains the Government can TAX (Wealth Consuming) or can "earn more income" (Wealth Production).

The former is a disastrous mistake in a weak economy!  And is abused in a strong one!

Steve Kelly has a great sense of humor!

For Todd and Matt

Since you are both on a path to teaching I thought this article - "Public School Teachers are not Underpaid" - might be of interest to you.  Read and comment.

Chicago's Silliness on Display

Danny Solis, a Chicago alderman and representative of the Dem establishment in that wonderful city thinks fining Marijuana smokers $200 for a minor possession is the answer to Chicago's fiduciary problems.  And Rahm Emanuel is having it studied!

Just think:

Marijuana possession:  $200
Cocaine: $500
Meth:  $700
Heroin:  $1000
Rape:  $5000
Murder:  $10,000

and you don't have to pay to have any of them in JAIL!!

With a little intelligent thinking like this our financial problems are a thing of the past!  Do you agree?

The stupidity is mind boggling!

"The Stupidity of 'Buy American'"

John Stossel explains in a clear manner the real economic effects of "Buy American" which is used by the left to pander to unions.  The real effects are not positive.

Read the column carefully and you will see the left (and I should say that it is prevalent on the right to the Republican panderers also!) do not think clearly about secondary effects of their actions.

The most well known - and still not discussed - example of this is the banning of DDT in the 1960's - still not allowed today, that has caused MILLIONS of Africans to die over the last few decades.  Look it up on the web.  It is an interesting example of where dogooders will sometimes take you!

Remember Stossel is a Libertarian so always take his writing from this perspective.

Thomas Sowell: A Clear Thinker

"Democracy Versus Mob Rule" is a column that logically analyzes the Occupy Wall Street movement, exposing their "Sloppy words and sloppy thinking..." and the MSM's politically correct, but totally illogical reporting.

Read the column and let me know what you think!