Sunday, October 25, 2009

The End of Extension in Michigan?

My good friend Bug Girl just posted a very disturbing entry to her own blog. Apparently the Michigan legislature intends to abandon the state’s Cooperative Extension Service.

This is just simply embarrassing, akin to the legislation in Kansas concerning evolution and creationism. Is that the kind of reputation that Michigan wants? Of course not. Extension agents help people across the entire globe because they are literally and figuratively plugged into networks of other professionals, trading ideas and helping each other in myriad ways. No state can afford to essentially operate in a social, economic, or scientific vacuum, but that is what is going to happen if the legislators don't see the error of their ways.

It is my humble opinion that there are no more important people than extension service personnel because they serve as the public face of science, educating the masses in a variety of formal and informal ways. They also serve as mentors to young students of science and agriculture via 4-H and other programs.

I urge you to lend your voice of support to the comments calling for an end to this budget-cutting nonsense over at Bug Girl’s Blog. Together, we can stop this and help ourselves as well as Michigan residents who would be so terribly hurt by an end to the Cooperative Extension Service. Thank you.

1 comment:

  1. AMEN! Missouri is facing it's own cutbacks in DNR and MDC. Seems there is no end to the powers that be, and their infinite wisdom in slashing and cutting programs designed to reach the citizens of our states.They never stop to think beyond the moment, and consider what the long term effects it will have on everyone. I've done my fair share of letter writing lately in opposition to proposed cutbacks. If we don't stand up as citizens of our individual states and speak out against obvious injustices and poor decision making, who will fight for our programs. When these programs are no longer available and the damage is done, these same citizens will be in an uproar. Speak up now! Don't wait until it is too late.

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