Seattle Press on Line - State School Budget May Need Acupuncturist

Teacher Ted

State School Budget May Need Acupuncturist

By Ted Lockery

May 03, 2001 -- People often say that desperate times require desperate measures. But when it comes to Washington State's woefully inadequate funding of public education, rarely do we consider getting acupuncture treatment.

Instead, we educators and our supporters roll up our sleeves, pack our busy calendars with even more meetings, and pass citizen initiatives (I-728 and I-732) that clearly instruct the legislature to reduce class size and provide state education professionals with a long overdue cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). When the governor and the legislature undermine those efforts by failing to fund the COLA by $2.7 million and underfunding the class size initiative by 30 percent, we organize a one-day walkout to register our frustration and send a message to lawmakers that the public expects them to do as they have been directed: fully fund the education initiatives.

Three weeks before the May 1 public school walkout, I made my first appointment for acupuncture treatment at the teaching clinic of the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in Fremont (they have a sliding-scale rate and are extremely conscientious). I had developed tendonitis in my elbow while moonlighting as a carpenter.

My visit included the attention of two student practitioners and Dr. Yang, all dressed in white lab coats. After answering a biography of questions about my eating practices, sleeping patterns, emotional state, body temperature and digestion, I then had to produce my tongue for an assessment of its coating. I couldn't help but wonder, "all this for a little tennis elbow?"

The three of them left the room and came back with a diagnosis that certain blockages of chi existed in various parts of my body and began gently sliding needles into my hands, legs, and feet--not my elbow. It was so painless that with each needle they had to ask if I could feel it. When I couldn't (which was most of the time), they moved it gently until I could feel a slight, dull pain. This, they told me, would improve the needle's stimulus in potentially unblocking the flow of energy.

So, what does all this have to do with the politics of public education?

I learned from my experience that acupuncture treats the entire human system rather than focusing on the immediate ailment. In contrast to Western medicine's car-mechanic approach to "fixing what's broke," the Eastern tradition views the ailment as a symptom of systemic imbalance. Likewise, Washington State's chronic lack of funding for public education is symptomatic of a tax code that is out of date, out of balance, and out of line.

Our legislature hands out billions of dollars in corporate tax breaks and imposes an extremely regressive sales tax of 8.62 percent on all of its residents, including the most disadvantaged. At the same time, Washington remains one of only seven states in the U.S. that refuse to employ a state income tax--one that would better stabilize state funding for education and social services, and do so more equitably.

There is another Eastern tradition that should serve as an example for the legislature: sustaining the system to prevent problems from becoming hemorrhaging crises. During my visit to the acupuncture clinic, I was told that the traditional Chinese doctor made regular visits to his patients. While his patients remained healthy, he was paid. When they fell ill he was paid only if he could restore them to their original state of health, hence the impetus for preventive maintenance.

Such wisdom should not be lost on state lawmakers, or on those who are currently fighting over issues of education funding--issues that are symptomatic of deeper challenges to the sustainability of democratic society.

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Oregon Resident	Aug 30, 2002	Portland, OR	IT Manager
As a person that gets taxed (10%), every time I make a dollar in Oregon. State income tax should not be an option. Regardless of financial issues. Top 3 reasons why: 1. You are now taxing everyone regardless of income status at a flat rate. 2. You get doubled taxed by both Feds and State. So now my $1 earned is now about 60 cents (30% Fed, 10% state). 3. Sales tax only taxes those who spend money. Theres my 60 cents worth.


Clarence Brown	Jun 10, 2003	Tyler, Texas	electrican
having lived and owned property in WA,Or,And ID in the last 15 years. I've traveled extensively back and forth across these United States. Taxpayers in all regions of this country are tired of paying tax dollars and seeing their children go to public schools and not getting an education. Reading, Writung, History, Math, Spelling, Science, Comprehension and various other skill are 30%to 40% below average . they take ever test in the world (SAT,ACT,PSAT, TAAK) and see scores of 45% to 70% of what they should be. 46 of 48 States have massive budget deficts. people are taxed to death and yet all the states increase spending by an average of 15% of our GDP, and they still ask for more because they can't cut spending.Our society has been trying to pay for everything for everybody for the last 30 years (LBJ started it all)and believe it or not these United States are "BROKE" have been for years. our elected politicians try to please all the people all the time. Nearly 7 Trillion Federal Budget.(7,000,000,000,000)another 6 Trillion(6,000,000,000,000)Trade deficit. 600,million federal education budget(not including 40,billion for the department of education)these figures don't include the red ink the states owe. it is time to get back to basics. Get a handle on our borders. In Calif and Tex Illigel immigrents come across the border to get free medical help,free food stamps,and welfare they use friends addresses in the US but live in Mexico. I believe in helping the poor but there are people using our system,and taking advantage of all our rights. while "WE THE PEOPLE" pay the bills, and watch our children fail in our education system that costs an average of $10,000/$11,000 per student per year. I for one want all the tax cuts I can get. the less the federal government has to spend the better I like it. Give all those billions to the states and let them establish a back to basics academic curriculum to their liking. It would not take 30 years to find out which one worked the best. Information is out there but most won't bother looking. They only want to cry and belly-ache about all the wrongs of this system."WE THE PEOPLE" let this happen to us, because we wanted everything given to us. well we got the system we ask for and only "WE THE PEOPLE" can change it.It will take time.Do we have the back bone to do it right this time,are do we want to be a third would country in another 25 or 30 years. Our freedoms did not come easy, but we are giving them away dayly. I can only hope we do it better in the future.