Killing the Golden Goose

Remember the story about the chap who had a goose that laid golden eggs, and he got greedy and killed the goose to get more? Well, the State of Michigan has been taking a few good whacks at that goose over the past few years. I bring it up because I suspect it may not be the only state to do so
First item on the agenda might be cutting back funding for state universities—especially the crown jewel, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. When I was college age it ranked among the top five universities in the nation, including the Ivy League. That’s a serious school.
(I might add that when Michigan achieved that rank, the University of California at Berkeley tied with Harvard one year for first. City College of New York was considered a first rate school. You don’t hear that about either of them any more. It’s not just Michigan.)
People came from all over the world to be treated at its medical school. Its engineering school, law school, and general education schools were among the best. Today, after a little cost cutting here and there over the years, it ranks about twenty-fifth. That’s a noticeable demotion.
Of course, in their infinite wisdom, the state fathers in Lansing voted to proclaim any state school that gave out a baccalaureate or two to be a “university”. That cost nothing, sounded good (in the interest of fairness) and reduced the term university as it applies to Michigan schools to meaninglessness. But it was cheaper than funding them.
Then it was the state parks system. I defy you to find a better system of state parks than those that exist along the shoreline of Lake Michigan in this state. People flock in from Chicago, Missouri, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, the Detroit area, Canada—I’ve met people from England, Egypt, Scotland and Syria on these beaches.
They bring money. They spend it. The parks are an awesome draw. You would think that Michigan would value this source of revenue. Seemingly not. Each year there are fewer and fewer park rangers. On-site housing for staff stands empty and abandoned. Bath houses stand bleak and untended with no showers, no concessions, and only two dimly lit toilets.
Lansing acts as if it doesn’t know these parks exist. When money has to be cut from the budget, the parks seem to be first on the operating table. After all, the parks merely make money. It’s so easy to lop off another cleaning crew, eliminate all life guards, or cut back on cleanup.
The only position that you can be sure remains staffed is the little booth that collects the state park entrance fees. Thirty years ago they were about $7.50 a season (up until 1962 there were no fees for day trippers at all). As the service declined and all but collapsed, the fees climbed to $30 this year and we are told to expect further raises next year.
Trust me, that booth will still be manned. Hasn’t been a life guard on those beaches in decades—and, like the salt seas, sometimes the lake can be dangerous. People do drown. But no life guards, just fee collectors.
How long will the out-of-state campers come to spend a week or two in parks that steadily go downhill in maintenance? If we’re losing General Motors, can we afford to sink the state park system too? What will be left to make money in Michigan? Just orchards?
Then, yesterday, I picked up our daily paper. The state fathers have decided to cut snow plowing on the two most important highways in this area. One is only the highway that runs along the coast. If you’re coming in from Chicago, US 31 is the road you take.
If you work thirty miles away in a Hermann Miller plant or one of hundreds of metal work and plastic part suppliers along the shore, US 31 is your only road. They’re going to reduce a major divided highway to secondary status. Why should workers—in a state where jobs are drying up and blowing away—be able to get to work on time—or at all?
How long can the goose go on laying golden eggs if they keep clobbering it? Do they think that if they kill it, everything inside will turn to gold this time? It didn’t in the story; it won’t now.