Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty • Hacker News Board

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#31

Post by basementcat » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:00 PM UTC

iscrewyou wrote: post #22

hpoe wrote: post #17

On the flip side if they just continue to run at a deficit for extended periods then they have to cut even more as they will no longer be able to fund what they have. I get that this isn't an ideal situation but it seems like so often whenever anyone wants to cut anything its the end of the world. I mean what would you cut in order to reduce the deficit? Welfare services? Health services? Emergency services? It may n…

Nobody needs a “deeper and penetrating insight into the finances of state of Alaska” to see the problem here. Cutting a stem program should not be on the top of any budget cut proposal. That’s the problem.

A big chunk of this problem can be solved by eliminating the oil dividend given to all residents.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#32

Post by cultus » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:07 PM UTC

tsunamifury wrote: post #27

brookhaven_dude wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because most of the benefits of the former are getting concentrated into the hands of educated and urban dwellers. So people want change, but end up stupidly sabotaging. Disclaimer: I am not a Trump supporter.

I don't think that holds water. In the article, these are the urban dwellers being sabotaged.

More accurately, very wealthy urban dwellers.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#33

Post by drak0n1c » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:13 PM UTC

tsunamifury wrote: post #12

I understand a well off nation ruled by democracy due to distributed table-stakes, and a poor nation ruled by a dictator due to centralized table-stakes, but I've never known a well off nation to intentionally sabotage its own table-stakes in order to surrender to dictatorship. Why is this happening? Who supports it? Why do they think it is necessary?

Alaska has a basic income distributed to all residents (oil dividend). Alaskans want that increased regularly, despite falling oil revenue. That money has to come from somewhere, and it's going to be the voting minority. This is not dictatorship, this is pure democracy in action - the popular vote. Tyranny of the majority.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#34

Post by hindsightbias » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:17 PM UTC

dv_dt wrote: post #2

We are entering a new dark ages ruled by the priests of austerity, unable to value anything but short-term money.

What was it Sagan said, "The 21st Century will mark the final battle between religion and science, who will win?"

But their might be more priesthoods than he thought of.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#35

Post by DuskStar » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:20 PM UTC

iscrewyou wrote: post #22

hpoe wrote: post #17

On the flip side if they just continue to run at a deficit for extended periods then they have to cut even more as they will no longer be able to fund what they have. I get that this isn't an ideal situation but it seems like so often whenever anyone wants to cut anything its the end of the world. I mean what would you cut in order to reduce the deficit? Welfare services? Health services? Emergency services? It may n…

Nobody needs a “deeper and penetrating insight into the finances of state of Alaska” to see the problem here. Cutting a stem program should not be on the top of any budget cut proposal. That’s the problem.

I'd love to see a comparison of the sizes of cuts across the UA system - if STEM is being cut disproportionately that's really messed up. But as far as I can tell, it's the UA administration choosing what to cut, and I wouldn't put it past people choosing the worst places to cut in order to score political points.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#36

Post by kindatrue » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:23 PM UTC

mywittyname wrote: post #30

seanmcdirmid wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If/when oil is done, Alaska will probably depopulate rapidly; they will have much larger problems than needing to raise taxes. The governor is doing this not to fill in gaps in the budget, but to increase the Alaskan dividend all residents get every year. Crazy stuff.

It's very possible that the majority of Alaskans support the governor's plan.

I'm not sure about Alaska, but if you look at voter turn out demographics in California - it's very skewed by senior citizens.

Who, unsurprisingly, aren't that excited about education or higher taxes.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#37

Post by supernova87a » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:23 PM UTC

Maybe it has something peripherally to do with having chosen a governor who does things like cutting funding to the Alaska Supreme Court when they issue a pro-choice abortion ruling.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#38

Post by jakecarpenter » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:25 PM UTC

shkkmo wrote: post #23

cavisne wrote: post #13

This is in some ways a preview of why the theory of basic income replacing other government spending (and therefore being fiscally conservative and libertarian) is false. Alaska is redirecting money from universities to basic income (the oil dividend) and it’s considered an outrage. The same thing would happen for any government program.

Not at all, the permanent fund dividend is immensely popular in Alaska. Additionally, it is actually money from the PFD that is used to fund the state government because the last democratic governor was unable to push through tax increases. What Alaska needs is a balanced package of raised taxes and budget controls, what we have is political gridlock and dysfunction.

There weren't tax increases, we don't have taxes to increase. We use oil tax and PF revenue to fund our government almost exclusively. Some municipalities and cities have sales/property taxes, but most don't.

I agree that we need a balanced package, but we also need to stop paying billions a year in tax credits and incentive to oil companies.

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#39

Post by LanceH » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:28 PM UTC

dv_dt wrote: post #2

We are entering a new dark ages ruled by the priests of austerity, unable to value anything but short-term money.

Austerity. That's laughable. Where would this be?

Re: Alaska’s Engineering Colleges Prepare to Slash Programs, Lay Off Faculty

#40

Post by tastyfreeze » Fri, Jul 19, 2019, 5:36 PM UTC

The Alaska budget cuts are not only to the University. Deep cuts across the board with services Governor Dunleavy feels are unnecessary taking the biggest hit (public health, university, public ferry transportation). However, according to Alaska's constitution the government must come up with a balanced budget. They have failed to do so since revenue shortfalls began. The previous governor used a stopgap measure of using the only part of the PFD that isn't constitutionally protected. His actions are akin to digging through your neighbors couch cushions for change. The money that was used isn't for running the government. But, since it wasn't constitutionally protected like the actual fund the legislators took what they wanted to avoid making hard choices.

The media focusing on Dunleavy wanting to pay residents what is constitutionally granted is a distraction. Alaska is in dire financial straits. Without severe budget cuts or a way to dramatically increase revenue Alaska will be bankrupted.

For clarity, the Permanent Fund (the investment fund), is constitutionally protected and fed by oil revenue. The Permanent Fund Earnings Fund (that PFD checks are paid from) is not constitutionally protected and is what politicians raided.