Make politicians support higher education here

“We don’t need no education,

We don’t need no thought control.”

-- Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd’s The Wall resonates through the mind of anyone who has ever heard it. It’s a classic song with great lyrics and like all of the psychedelic band’s music, not one soon to be forgotten.

But all the educated out there realize the statement, “We don’t need no education” is a double negative, which really means, “We need education.”

And no where does that ring louder than here in the mountains of Kentucky. Although one thing is for certain -- we have intelligent individuals from this area who just need the opportunity to obtain an education in order to succeed.

There's so many examples, we don't have enough space here for them all.

Everyone knows this area produces musicians galore. I’d venture to say, there’s as many talented musicians in these here hills as there is in all of several states combined. But they need our high schools and grade schools to support their crafts. Then they can showcase their gifts to us all.

We also have artists tucked away in every hollow around here. They carve away at their wood creations or hammer home at their metal masterpieces. But they need vocational schools to improve their craft and to help find ways to implement this into an actual job. Then they become more than just rare spectacles to our area.

In my opinion, all our young have one ability or another, but many lack the means to a higher education. But higher education remains the key to a better job and a more secure future.

In this we have a challenge. A challenge we must face, head-to-head, with all of us on the same page.

We must find a way for our kids to get an advanced education right here at home.

The University Center of the Mountains has found a loophole. It provides several bachelor’s degrees and a few master’s degrees from accredited colleges and universities through services on the campus of Hazard Community and Technical College. A fine start indeed.

Ron Daley and his staff at the center have some financial support, but more is needed.

My idea is for local citizens to write anyone who can help, such as our Kentuckians with ties to federal dollars.

So write Congressman Hal Rogers and ask for his support. Rogers just attended a conference hosted by the center and it’s fresh on his mind. It’s an election year and nobody knows pork better than our buddy from Somerset.

But don’t forget Kentucky’s own Mitch McConnell. The senator from Louisville has means to vast amounts of federal dollars. And monetary support is what we’re really talking about here. We need it for education, and they have it for too many less-worthy projects.

More importantly, there is our own Jim Bunning. The former big leaguer better listen to us here in this area after we almost ousted him from his nest a couple years ago.

Bunning has forgotten us far too often in the past and Dr. Daniel Mongiardo just may make sure everyone remembers how much he forgets come next re-eleciton time. So let's take advantage of Bunning while he's still there.

Don't know how?

Connect to www.congress.org for more information. Those without the Internet can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your elected official.

Let these men know we’re watching them as much as they’re watching us.

Big Brother may be watching, but the rest of us get to vote. (So don’t forget to place an educated vote next month.)