Gasoline vs. education

Ott Johnson, Editorialist

July 02, 2008 03:22 pm

— We all know gasoline prices have gone crazy, but we aren’t sure why or whom to blame. As with everything many don’t like, they blame the president. Others blame the oil companies or the investors who buy the stuff and hold it, forcing the price up by limiting the supply. Surely, you have heard a few dozen other reasons with many more to come since it is an election year.
Of course, we have enough oil and gas under our country’s land to supply us for many decades to come. Unfortunately, our political leaders gave far too much power to the Environmental Protection Agency some 40 years ago at the demands of the hippy generation. Too bad if children must starve, freeze or just suffer, the environment must not change. Those far out thinkers assumed everything was near perfect when Congress first hatched EPA in hopes for some rest from their almost constant demonstrations.
Now we are trying to survive with EPA in charge. Now many hard working people have difficulty trying to determine what needs they must do without in order to buy gasoline for traveling to work.
The EPA answer, ride your bicycle or use the subway? They need to get out of D.C. for a look around.
A few numbers show gasoline has increased from about 21 cents a gallon back 50 years ago to the ugly neighborhood today of $3.85 or a price increase of 1,800 percent. That’s a bunch!
However, it reminds me of the Oklahoma State University tuition cost next semester of $183 per credit hour. Fifteen credit hours per semester will cost $2,745. Not bad if that were the only cost. Unfortunately, room, board, clothes, overpriced books and the dastardly cost of gasoline all make an OSU education impossible for many Oklahomans.
Tuition 50 years ago at OSU was $66 per semester. While gasoline increased in price by 1,800 percent, OSU tuition has now increased 4,000 percent during those same 50 years, more than twice the gasoline price increase. Certainly, a great deal has changed over the past 50 years, but to justify more than a 4,000 percent increase in tuition? I can find nothing else, not even the postage stamp, which has inflated so much. Moreover, please, don’t try to justify these prices by comparing with other institution. They do not affect prices at OSU. Why not drop the idea that tuition charges among Big 12 universities is a contest.
Would improved management, fewer OSU vehicles and planes, less excessive speeding with university vehicles, eliminating lighted athletic fields while the sun is shinning and a hundred other management changes be worth considering for cost reductions? Management is such an irritating thing, but without it, dollars just take flight.
Still, there is one remaining question. Have we lost sight of the land grant colleges’ original purpose?
Just something to think about.
Thanks to those serving and those who have served in military services for protecting our freedom. Be sure to celebrate the anniversary of our independence.
Ott Johnson is a Perkins writer.