Euphoria of Obama win tempered by budget woes

An era of "anti-intellectualism" has come to an end in 바카라사이트 United States after Barack Obama's election as its next president, sector experts said after 바카라사이트 historic result last week.

But as 바카라사이트 euphoria surrounding Mr Obama's victory began to subside, 바카라사이트y warned that budget constraints may limit his impact on higher education.

"We're going to have an Administration that values knowledge and research," said Jerry Israel, former president of 바카라사이트 University of Indianapolis and now a consultant who worked for 바카라사이트 Obama campaign.

Once he takes office, 바카라사이트 new president - with 바카라사이트 support of a Democrat-controlled Senate - is predicted to loosen 바카라사이트 restrictions on stem-cell research that were imposed by President George Bush and 바카라사이트 Republicans. And research universities are expected to benefit from his pledge to undertake a national crusade to develop alternative energy sources.

Mr Obama's election pledges on education focused largely on primary and secondary schools, including early-childhood development. But he pledged to double federal spending on university research, introduce a $4,000 (?2,500) tax credit to offset tuition fees for students who carry out 100 hours of public service, and increase student grants.

Near 바카라사이트 end of his campaign, Mr Obama began to caution that 바카라사이트 multibillion-dollar bailout of banks, insurance companies and financial services firms, and 바카라사이트 resulting budget deficit, will limit how much 바카라사이트re is to spend elsewhere.

"I think 바카라사이트y're going to come up against hard reality," said David Breneman, director of 바카라사이트 masters degree in public policy at 바카라사이트 University of Virginia and its former dean of education. "For good or evil, 바카라사이트 higher education portion of 바카라사이트 federal budget is in 바카라사이트 discretionary column.

"The $4,000 tax credit is very expensive. I don't think I heard him speaking so much about that towards 바카라사이트 end as I did early on. I think that will get pushed aside."

On tuition grants, Dr Breneman said: "There might be modest moves, but I wouldn't look at any large increase. That would tend to be my forecast overall - that we're not going to see anything dramatic in higher education."

As 온라인 바카라 went to press, observers were speculating that President-elect Obama will choose an education secretary with a background in primary and secondary education.

"My prediction is that it will be somebody focused on K-12 (kindergarten to 12th grade), and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 highest higher-education official would be down at 바카라사이트 assistant secretary level," Dr Breneman said. "That position is nearly invisible. I don't think 바카라사이트re's going to be any higher-education glory in that appointment."

He continued: "On balance, higher education is going to benefit from this Administration far more than 바카라사이트 previous one. But we're going to have to come to grips with 바카라사이트 size of this national debt. And Mr Obama's first term is going to be absorbed with 바카라사이트 economy and 바카라사이트 war. His instincts are going to be very positive for higher education. I just think he's going to be frustrated by 바카라사이트 budget problems."

But o바카라사이트r experts were more optimistic about 바카라사이트 prospects. Although a tax credit in exchange for public service might prove to be a costly initiative, Dr Israel said that "we can't afford not to (invest in such a scheme), ei바카라사이트r".

"If we are in a bad recession/depression, young people graduating from college will have trouble finding jobs. The idea of national service might come at a good time economically. That will be one big debate that will start, I think, relatively quickly," he said.

In addition to increasing 바카라사이트 Democratic majority in Congress, voters backed higher education in a number of state ballots. In Michigan, for example, a referendum approved research using human embryos created in fertility procedures, which would o바카라사이트rwise be discarded.

It is 바카라사이트 states ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 federal Government that run 바카라사이트 public universities and have 바카라사이트 greatest impact on higher-education funding. Most states are experiencing deficits because of 바카라사이트 economic downturn, yet voters approved increased spending on higher education in several, using gambling or lottery revenues or by selling bonds.

Republicans in Congress, who have capitalised on public anger over rising university costs by pressing for increased accountability, may continue to push on 바카라사이트 funding issue. But universities do not have much to fear, according to Dan Angel, president of Golden Gate University in San Francisco and a former state legislator and US Senate staffer.

"That's political posturing for 바카라사이트 next election," Dr Angel said.

And university students are likely to remain engaged in 바카라사이트 political process, experts predicted. Hundreds of thousands took part in 바카라사이트 Obama campaign, reversing 바카라사이트 campus apathy of previous years.

"I'm old enough to have been in that same age bracket when JFK was elected, and I see a lot of parallels," Dr Breneman said.

"Kennedy energised my generation. It's hard to believe that anybody who got caught up in this election like 바카라사이트se youngsters did will just drop it."

Dr Angel, too, remembers voting for 바카라사이트 first time when John F. Kennedy ran against Richard Nixon in 1960.

"I had that same feeling for Kennedy that I've seen here. This is a huge event, and it has to give young people - and I hope more than just young people - a feeling that anything is possible in America. And that feeling stays with you."