How Higher Education Became a Pawn in the Partisan Forever War

Kevin Carey wrote for the Chronicle of Higher Education on partisan disagreement over higher education.

Defunding higher education is economic madness in red states that are already struggling with out-migration. But that’s the problem with partisan hatred — it transcends self-interest. Many of the same leaders are happy to let thousands of their fellow citizens sicken and die for lack of health insurance by refusing to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, even though the federal government would pick up the tab.

College leaders have historically stayed well above the partisan fray, wisely building a broad base of support that can absorb political oscillation. But the parties are now dividing along educational lines. The Alaska crisis suggests that if universities don’t pick sides, the sides will pick them.