Just to let you know what's keeping me up at night

Created by William J. Allen (Arkansas State University) on January 11, 2009

The economic collapse has not yet hit Arkansas. Not badly yet. At least that seems to be what people in power are saying. (I do see lots of foreclosure notices in the paper, but those are not people in power).

Our forest too will start falling. State budget cuts will come. Rather than doing one big cut, Arkansas likes to nibble. We will get three or four budget cuts. Athletics will be fine. But the rest of us will suffer.

I fear that the decisions about computing resources will be made quickly and not visibly (well, we like to have meetings to let people talk and then let the people in power go ahead do what god has told them to do).

Some exciting initiatives will pause and maybe disappear. Some initiatives that appear to promise help to the aims of the chamber of commerce will get support.

None of this is surprising. What keeps me awake is not the fact that important things will cease, but that this crisis will further erode education, further turn us into training and community development places.

That's what keeps me awake.

William's blog
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		Just to let you know what's keeping me up at night Created by William J. Allen (Arkansas State University) on January 11, 2009 The economic collapse has not yet hit Arkansas. Not badly yet. At least that seems to be what people in power are saying. (I do see lots of foreclosure notices in the paper, but those are not people in power). Our forest too will start falling. State budget cuts will come. Rather than doing one big cut, Arkansas likes to nibble. We will get three or four budget cuts. Athletics will be fine. But the rest of us will suffer. I fear that the decisions about computing resources will be made quickly and not visibly (well, we like to have meetings to let people talk and then let the people in power go ahead do what god has told them to do). Some exciting initiatives will pause and maybe disappear. Some initiatives that appear to promise help to the aims of the chamber of commerce will get support. None of this is surprising. What keeps me awake is not the fact that important things will cease, but that this crisis will further erode education, further turn us into training and community development places. That's what keeps me awake. budget \| Competition \| economy \| Infrastructure \| recession William's blog Login or register to post comments 335 reads
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