I’ve been asked (by two readers) to write about two questions. This flood of interest is overwhelming. Thus, with much humility, I offer the following opinions:
On teacher’s pay: Michael Hicks at Ball State has offered two columns on the subject. He makes the statistical argument well about Indiana’s delinquency regarding the pay of teachers.
Our compensation for teachers is below the market rate. This likely, but not necessarily, gives us teachers who are below standard quality. Are the teachers’ unions and the local school boards ready to dismiss or retrain teachers who do not perform up to the standards to which we aspire?
Perhaps, we don’t need higher pay for teachers. Rather, do we need pay for more teachers with the skills necessary to meet the challenges of today’s students? Both more pay and more teachers suggests higher taxes, even for businesses.
Which brings us to our teacher colleges. Are they admitting sub-par students and turning out sub-par graduates? Likewise, are Indiana voters and legislators willing to upgrade the quality of our school boards and do battle with all the organizations mentioned thus far?
I see no evidence Hoosiers are ready to improve our schools. Why aren’t the university presidents out in front on this effort? Must Mitch Daniels do everything alone?
As for the Electoral College, the “problem” can be resolved without a constitutional amendment. Maine and Nebraska have shown us the way.
In those two states, two electors go to the party that wins the statewide vote, just as today. Each remaining elector goes to the party winning each congressional seat.
In Indiana, we had eleven electoral votes in 2020. Under the current winner-take-all rule, all eleven electoral votes went to the winner of Indiana’s presidential vote, Donald Trump.
If the Maine/Nebraska system had been operative, two electoral seats would go automatically to the Republicans. But with Democrats winning two congressional races, they would get two electoral votes; Republicans would get seven electors based on their seven congressional wins. In total, the score would have been Republicans 9, Democrats 2.
By my count, 27 states have split delegations to the House of Representatives. In California, instead of all 55 electoral votes going to Biden, under the Maine/Nebraska system: Biden 44, Trump 11. In Texas, it would have been Republicans 22, Democrats 13 instead of 35-0 in favor of the Repuiblicans.
With the Maine/Nebraska model in place, the 2020 electoral count would have been Democrats 275, Republicans 263 instead of 306-232. The current system gave Biden 57% of electors; the proposed system would reduce that to 51%, matching the popular vote.
With these changes, candidates and their parties would pay more attention to congressional districts. We might increase competition as each party has reason to turn out their voters, winning districts and improving their statewide vote.
Morton Marcus is an economist. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow his views and those of John Guy on Who gets what? wherever podcasts are available or at mortonjohn.libsyn.com
