People rally as NM lawmakers eye $650M deficit plans

This is the new American disease. Everyone wants the government to provide them a service paid for by someone else (the taxpayers). New Mexicans subsidize mass transit in DC, rather than the locals paying the true cost of the service. NMSU can easily cut 3.5% from its budget by cutting unnecessary programs and staff. It has a very high staff to faculty ratio compared to most universities, and programs such as Womens Studies contribute very little to the economic well-being of New Mexicans. Spurred by the recession, private business is cutting costs and becoming more efficient. NMSU has continually added programs and services of marginal value. It is time to get back to the core mission of the university and eliminate the fluff.

You are so right. Everyone wants the government to save them. Don't these people know if we don't cut spending, we have to raise taxes. I am getting so tired of paying more taxes.

Here is a perfect microcosm or the financial problems in our country: Spend, spend, spend, and no matter if there isn't any money to pay the bill. No wonder we are in such sad shape.

Do you really pay so much in taxes? The tax structure here is one of the cheapest of anywhere I have lived in the US. Our educational system is not the pride of the country by any means. Why cut it further?

Do I think there's "dead weight" in our educational system?
YES - and it should be cut out!

Do I think we should cut funding to an already shaky educational system?
HECK NO!!! We already have an educational system folks use as the butt of many jokes, why weaken t further?

Stronger economies have one thing in common - they invest in education - it pays dividends. A more educated populace leads to higher salaries and a more vibrant economy. Take away schools, you scare away those with degrees who realize this relationship between education and economy. We already have many smart folks leaving the area, why chase those off who want to stay?

Yes, the economy sucks right now, and it is painful for m ost of us on some level, myself included. Cutting education to "fix things" is really going to hurt us much worse than other options.

New to Town wrote:

Do you really pay so much in taxes?

In fact, I do pay a lot in taxes. Over 40% of my gross income goes to taxes. Are you saying I should pay more. Why so?