Dale Hoffman of the Journal Sentinel decries low voter turnout, leaving school financing in the hands of "tax hard-liners."Comparing the Racine school district threat to kill sports to a hostage situation, Hoffman gives in to Stockholm syndrome.
What he should be asking instead is, how credible is the threat? After all, there are a number of teachers union employees who benefit from having a school system funded sports program. Hoffman himself notes it was the "threat of first resort." There can be, and will be, other cuts.
But let's take the school district at their word that funding for school athletics will be cut. Hoffman challenges the supposed beneficiaries of high school athletics to send sports equipment (the NFL, Major League Baseball, Nike), video equipment (the TV networks) and even cash (big league athletes) to the beleaguered schools.
Of course, no mention was made of how much the Journal Sentinel benefits from local school district sports. I think one could ask the newspaper to make a substantial donation. Or Dale Hoffman could donate his paycheck for his column. He certainly didn't take the time to complain about ungiving taxpayers for free.
For that matter, WEAC could cough up some dough. They've certainly benefitted from Racine school district athletics, whether it's individual payments to WEAC members for coaching, or the spoils from extorting the extinction of these sports programs.
It's only fair. The taxpayers have paid enough.
(note: I fixed the headline before some wiseguy makes fun of my spelling)
