Letter: Hinson confuses investing with divesting

When I did my MBA, I had a number of classes on corporate finance. Buying a stock is called investing and selling a stock is the opposite, called divesting. So imagine my confusion when, in her guest column, State Rep. Ashley Hinson claimed this most recent legislative session 'invested in education.” ('Trump visit highlights commitment to Midwest,” June 27).

Really?

The 2017 Legislature cut more than $20 million from our state universities and another $3 million from community colleges. That's not investing. You aren't investing in Apple when you sell Apple stock. You aren't investing in Ford when you sell Ford stock and you certainly aren't investing in education when you take away money from our colleges and universities. You're divesting.

Sure, there was a $40 million increase (a little over 1 percent) in K-12 spending. Ignored in the spin is that this represents half what districts needed just to remain status quo. The 1 percent school funding increase is sort of like the captain of the Titanic ordering a turn one degree turn to port. Sure, he can say he turned the boat, but they're still hitting the iceberg. On the upside, at least the rich passengers in front won't have their cabins destroyed and the band can play a little longer.

No, Rep. Hinson, you did not invest in education. You short changed our kids and all Iowans will be worse off because of it.

Scott Foens

Marion