The State newspaper stated the obvious last Wednesday when discussing the budget cuts Gov. Nikki Haley proposed in last week’s State of the State. She proposed $120 million worth of cuts to a budget hole of $830 million. Cutting the Arts Commission and SC ETV is frivolous, if not idiotic, because the savings from not funding them would be like putting 1000 men in Leonidas’ abyss from “300.” Serious people would pull an Illinois and broaden the tax rates and raise revenues in a sensible way, even if they didn’t like it. Then again, we have nutcases running our state.
— Austin Jackson, Third-year political science student
While Nikki Haley is correct in her assessment that the deficit we are currently running needs to remedied, I do not agree with her solution. Ending arts programs and ETV will, at the very least, be disastrous to those who profit the most from these programs: those who cannot otherwise afford the benefits of these programs. Arts programs increase cultural awareness (inarguably essential in today’s society) and visualization skills, (e.g., imagination). ETV provides educational yet fun programming, an especially valuable asset for children. By cutting these programs, we are cutting investments in our future.
— Samruddhi Somani, First-year economics student
Cutting funding for South Carolina’s art programs and ETV will have a negative effect on the state. Not only will it take away opportunities for learning through the programs for children, it will also result in job cuts and higher unemployment for those who depend on it for their paychecks. Why is it that the arts are the first to go? Why can’t these “serious” government officials take a paycheck cut? Instead of cutting out programs that are beneficial to society, reduce the high pay-rollers in our government. Just think about how much money this state would save if each Congressperson were to receive an average paycheck like all other college graduate employees? I say they could stand to lose some of their wealth in order to save the arts.
— Katie Greer, Second-year broadcast journalism student
I commend Nikki Haley for keeping to her campaign promises of cutting programs to make headway in the enormous state debt. I do not think that it is our state government’s job to fund the arts or any television station because of the obvious waste of money. That being said, I hope to see the private sector begin to aid the Arts Commission and ETV. I am still going to take these cuts with a grain of salt because the present cuts are no where close to what is needed and this could still just be a front to appease the people who voted Haley into office. All I am saying is that we need to see some more cuts before you can even think about putting down your Gadsden flag.
— Stephen Barry, First-year broadcast journalism student
Haley is making the mistake that many elected officials tend to make. She is focusing on small issues to solve a big problem. While ETV and the Arts Commission do receive state funding, the amount of money these entities receives is quite small when compared to other recipients. If Haley is serious about getting spending under control, she will have to do much more than what she’s done so far.
— Hakeem Jefferson, Fourth-year political science and African American studies student
This moron is telling us we should have faith in her budget cuts to the arts while she allots $1.1 million to her staff salaries? Nikki, are you drunk?
— Emily Shipp, Third-year English student