Outsourcing at A&M, a microcosm

What’s going on at Texas A&M will likely happen or be tried at many state universities all over Texas. But it’s all part of the plan. Privatization schemes, like what is being proposed at A&M, are a way to funnel taxpayer money to corporations that fund the campaigns of those who “deregulate”. Here’s what deregulation has done to tuition at public universities, Higher education: Texas state universities to seek tuition hikes.

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The so-call free market is driving up the price of higher education, no surprise there. But in order to make it look like they’re trying to cut costs, university chancellors will go after the lowest paid workers, (who can’t afford a lobbyist), what they consider to be non-essential employees. As with other privatizations schemes this will likely fail, and only cost taxpayers, and working Texans, more in the long run. With only the corporations and those whose campaigns they bankroll benefiting.

Here’s the conclusion of a study of privatization in Texas done by Texans for Public Justice in 2007, Peddling Welfare-Privatization Boondoggles.

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It’s not a pretty picture. There’s a considerable amount of backlash against Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp’s plan to outsource the university’s dining services, landscaping, custodial services and building maintenance. In the latest the faculty has written Sharp about this, Faculty challenge Texas A&M proposal to outsource jobs.

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Sharp is taking heat for this and doesn’t seem to like the scrutiny. On a local radio show the Chair or the Brazos County Democratic Party Maggie Charleton was interviewed. She stated, among other things, how this will hurt the workers, the community, and that she wants to make sure that all options are being explored to cut costs. Sharp, in his response, starts with and non-sequitor and by bashing Democrats in Texas.

http://eyeonwilliamson.org/?p=10649

[font color=green]What the f*** is up with John Sharp? He ran for governor of Texas as a Democrat and is now bashing his own party. Please see my other comments about him at the bottom of post #2 on the thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/10781254. With friends like this, who needs enemies? He is making George W. Bush look saintly in comparison.[/font]