Editorial: Dollars and sense, understanding the budget

One of the most complicated structures in the world is the monetary system. There are various types of currency, from the dollar to the yen, and each has a sophisticated system associated with its value. As one of the richest nations in the world, according to Forbes, the United States has a complex federal budget, and thousands of smaller intricate budgets for each organization. The Washburn University budget is among those thousands of organization who meticulously plan out every dollar, every year to build not only the profit of the university, but this budget also serves the larger purpose of enriching student’s lives.

Budgets are incredibly confusing things. The very nature of our capitalistic society ensures that budgets continue to be necessary. However, when we are all investors in Washburn University, understanding how the budget works, to a certain extent, becomes crucial. As students, we are all investing in this university. Our tuition, our room and board and our presence all guarantees that this school has a future. If we left, and took our dollars with us, that would mean that this organization would cease to exist, its purpose having been met.

{{tncms-inline content=”<p>We are all investing in this University. Our tuition, our room/board, and our presence all guarantees that this school has a future.</p>” id=”433e810c-757a-4d51-8af2-05c3b8de0bd5″ style-type=”quote” title=”1″ type=”relcontent”}}

That does not mean that we as students are the only gears in this machine, which is the university’s budget. There are also donors, alumni, as well as the tax dollars of Topeka that provide various parts to this institution.

All of those parts must be have a level of input, and their opinion must be heard. Think of it as a political system; midterms are quickly approaching, and the lobbyists are working with every Congressional hopeful to confirm that the company they represent will be represented during that candidate’s term. As the current congressmen and women pass bills and confirm the budget, there are always concessions that are made. Parties make compromises in order to certify that our government is able to work.

{{tncms-inline content=”<p>It is up to each investor, everyone who plays a part, to learn their role, and work to understand how their interactions shape the larger budget. </p>” id=”77cad930-b00f-4fea-8935-52ca21a6a6e3″ style-type=”quote” title=”2″ type=”relcontent”}}

The budget, government and higher systems are all complicated, intricate and oftentimes confusing structures. However, it is up to each investor, everyone who plays a part, to learn their role and work to understand how their interactions shape the larger budget. The monetary system is sophisticated and it is time that we as stakeholders learn the interworking in order to reap the full benefits.