Why doesn’t NM ever invest in its people?

Every children’s story has a victim, a villain and a hero. And so it is with the state of New Mexico and funding for early childhood education, our public schools and universities. The victims are the children of the state who are crying out for someone to hear them and to provide a bright future through education and opportunities. But who are the villains? And where are the heroes? Who will step up to be the hero the children of this state need?

Our state sits on a permanent fund of over $16 billion while we continue to spiral down in an economic recession of our own making. We don’t have to be in an economic crisis when we have $16 billion invested in Wall Street, yet we refuse to sufficiently fund our schools or invest in our people. An economic downturn, like the one that occurred in 2008, can wipe out billions of dollars invested in Wall Street, but investments we make in education and people can never be lost.

The Legislature is in a position to invest in New Mexico’s future and to provide hope. Or it can remain fearful and hoard the resources of the state.

We can use the permanent fund to invest in our future. We can rescind the Richardson-era tax cuts gifted to the wealthiest top 1 percent and instead use those funds to pay for early childhood education and our public schools. We can invest in our universities and community colleges to provide a better future for our state. We can create the conditions for more economic development in this state that moves us forward, allowing our state to grow and develop.

Every compelling story has a victim, a villain and a hero. Who are going to be the heroes for New Mexico?