[Vision2020] Budget problems in Washington State

[Donovan Arnold]

Mr. Jones,

I would like to address your concerns directly by the points you brought up.

"1. The state is $2 billion in the hole."

Your assumption is that this group some how results in an extra cost to 
society. I contend that this group would actually decrease the cost to the 
state. By providing free counseling to those with a problem through peers 
and using already existing resources saves thousands every year. Depression 
and loss of work, or using professional resources, such as persons that have 
PhD to counsel students dealing with personal issues is more expensive. 
People that have nobody to relate to usually will go to a more expensive 
resource such as a psychologist.


“2. Sexual orientation is a private matter. It really doesn't matter to me 
at all. Or should it matter to you.”

Sexual orientation is a private matter, but it does impact mental health and 
performance at work and school. You are correct that it should not matter to 
the public, but it does. People deal with sexual orientation issues because 
there is discrimination against certain types of people in public, at work, 
school, church, and even in the home,  and those people need to have an 
inexpensive and effective way of dealing with it.

“3. Allocating funds for a special interest, that is not even of direct 
benefit to students, is a misuse of taxpayer funds.”

How is the improvement of mental health and increasing social skills not a 
benefit to students? Second, where do you get the assumption that it is 
funded by taxpayers? GLBT is a student funded organization not funded by 
taxpayer dollars. Third, all government funding goes to special interests, 
including Social Security, Meals on Wheels, Public Education, Road 
Construction, and Fire Protection.. Fighting discrimination is also a goal 
of the University and to not fund it or to prevent students from freely 
forming would be a violation of state and federal law.


“4. The state has no business in the bedroom. On any level.”

First, I disagree with this statement. It has the right to prevent rape, 
child molestation, and animal cruelty. It also has the right to help men and 
women with reproductive problems, and has the responsibility to promote 
sexual education so people can make informed decisions.

Second, GLBT and other such groups have nothing to do with sex. They have to 
do with providing peer relations and someone to talk to about their 
sexuality identity and be provided counseling. They are not sex sessions as 
you are implying with your grossly uninformed statement or the bedroom.

I hope that cleared it up for you. Now I know that you will write whoever 
the contact person was in that article and thank them for saving you money 
and providing free services for students. If you are worried about the 
government spending money on something that has nothing to do with education 
I suggest you start in the areas of Auxiliary Services and Athletics.

Take Care,

Donovan J Arnold


>From: "Ed Jones" <edjones at moscowmail.com>
>To: vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Budget problems in Washington State
>Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 20:57:52 -0500
>
>You have shown your true colors, sir.
>
>How dare you assign some rednecky label to me? You know nothing of me. I am 
>merely a concerned individual, seeking answers, who assumed this was an 
>open and tolerant forum.
>
>And no one is threatening anyone with any aspect of their sexual 
>orientation. Not on this list, and not at WSU. That is a fallacy that some 
>are too eager to buy into.
>
>On the contrary, we find ourselves forced to wear kid gloves when dealing 
>with these important issues. Say one word...and your're labeled a bigot.
>
>By virtue of your baseless attack on me, you reveal just how bigoted you 
>are.
>
>Now let me try one more time to explain my concern in terms you can 
>understand.
>
>1. The state is $2 billion in the hole.
>2. Sexual orientation is a private matter. It really doesn't matter to me 
>at all. Or should it matter to you.
>3. Allocating funds for a special interest, that is not even of direct 
>benefit to students, is a misuse of taxpayer funds.
>4. The state has no business in the bedroom. On any level.
>
>Now please reserve your vitriol for the truly defenseless. They make the 
>easiest pickings.
>
>If you are truly for equality and a color-blind society, we wouldn't be 
>arguing, we would be in harmonious agreement.
>
>
>Ed Jones
>My box has a built-in sharpener
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Tom Hansen" <thansen at moscow.com>
>To: "'Ed Jones'" <edjones at moscowmail.com>, vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] Budget problems in Washington State
>Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 17:20:18 -0800
>
> >
> > Ed Jones stated:
> >
> > "Last time I checked, the core mission of WSU was to educate students, . 
>. .
> > "
> >
> > You are partially correct, Mr. Jones.  All public (pronounced "guvmint" 
>in
> > your world) schools are established to provide education.
> >
> > Now, here is the little addendum that apparently applies only to public
> > (again pronounced "guvmint" in your world) schools.
> >
> > Public schools are required to provide an academic atmosphere where 
>students
> > do not feel threatened by virtue of their sex, race, color, or sexual
> > orientation.
> >
> > It's a catchy little phrase that goes a bit beyond NSA's:
> >
> > Black is beautiful.
> > Tan is grand.
> > But white is the color of the boss man.
> >
> > Dontcha think?
> >
> > Take care, Moscow.
> >
> > Tom Hansen
> > Moscow, Idaho
> >
> > We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some 
>are
> > dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors....but they 
>all
> > exist very nicely in the same box.
>
>--
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