Comments about ‘Let regents govern higher education’

It would be easier if we just voted these micromanagers out of office. Senator Stephenson is the king of knowing everything that is wrong with public education. I say let's get him on the Board of Regents and out of public office so that his ideas can be implemented. But then again I am a failure at comedy writing.

A large portion of the cost of higher education comes from taxes. WE pay those taxes. WE elect representatives who control the spending of tax dollars. It is THEIR responsibility to their CONSTITUENTS to see that those tax dollars are not wasted.

No matter what program is desired, if that program uses tax dollars for its funding, it becomes a matter of our Legislature.

Those who think that ANY agency or appointee of government is above the direction of the legislature in the spending of tax dollars has no understanding of our representative form of government. WE elected those people to see that OUR tax dollars are spent properly.

Florez is saying that a beurecratic agency is above the legislature. I don't think so. That is another reason why the federal government is so messed up. Congress lets the beurecrats run wild and now we have an anti-business climate that is increasing everyday.

Utah legislature needs to keep questioning the education board as well as all of the other beurecratic agencies that utah has. If they deem necessary overide the stupid rules these beurecratic agencies stupid regulations.

I agree with Mr. Florez on this one. However, it isn't the whole legislature that is causing the problems. Each of the last 5 or 6 sessions it has been the same 3 or 4 legislators that are destroying our education system. They must have some serious power or else there are many liars. Whenever I ask my local legislator, he supports the schools but then always backs Mr. degree to nowhere.

Sadly that one district that keeps voting him in seems to be full of sheep that follow the leader. They are really to blame as noted by Mr. Richards above. They elect him and he destroys public ed.

So yes Mr. Richards you are partially correct. However WE don't elect him, his district does. WE would vote him out.

Yep, a degree in ethnic studies will land you a great job at Micky Ds. I'm glad our elected officials are putting their foot down. I really don't want my tax dollars going to programs that go nowhere. Next, get some of those useless programs out K1 through 12. If the kids learn to read and do math, there are many books they can read on these other subjects. All they have to do is turn off the MTV. The best some of those degrees have to offer is getting a job teaching it and the circle continues. We need Doctors, Engineers, Scientists, etc., from this country, but now most come from India, China and Japan.

I think that legislators who coin phrases like "degrees to nowhere" don't have an understanding of the real world. The majority of people who attend college, and achieve degrees, don't work in the area of their degree. My friend has a BS in psychology and works in the IT department at the "U", another friend has a masters in geology and works as a union rep for the Virginia Educational Association. The list goes on and on, but the point is, is that we educate people in our society and it's up to all of us to re-learn the skills for a new job, college just prepares us for the possibilities, there is no point in trying to turn colleges into glorified trade schools.

@liberal larry

You're absolutely right. Doctors, dentists, and engineers, can just learn on the job. Just take whatever majors and classes in college and that indicates your skill levels. Hope you're not a high school counslor or doctor.

re: Lifelong Republican | 12:12 p.m. July 30, 2011

Each of us has the right to vote for a representative. None of us has the right to tell someone else how to vote. No matter how you feel personally about any candidate, if that candidate's name is not on YOUR ballot, you don't get to vote for or against him, however, there is no law that keeps you from contacting that representative or senator and discussing issues with him. That seems fair to me.

The main point is that tax dollars are not "free", they represent hard work and sacrifice from the people of Utah. A responsible legislature understands that sacrifice and hard work. A responsible legislature reins in anyone who thinks otherwise. Some call that micro-managing. I call that "doing your duty as an elected official".

Just yesterday, I got my property tax notice. The value of my home went down, but the amount that I will have to pay went up. That is irresponsible. Just because an agency has the power to do something does not make it "right". They sometimes forget that they "serve" the people; we do not serve them.

MR: "Just yesterday, I got my property tax notice. The value of my home went down, but the amount that I will have to pay went up. That is irresponsible."

No Mike, it's the "truth in taxation" law, designed to ensure that essential government services don't try to function on the roller-coaster ride of retail sales and property values from year to year. It's a law passed by the overwhelmingly Republcan Utah.

This same law kept your property taxes from spiking with the real estate boom of a decade ago.