Attn. Michigan Teams: $2,000,000 FIRST Pledge Cancelled

[Andrew Blair]

Though I completely agree that the grant is great for FIRST and Michigan, that FIRST is the future, and that it was a bit rotten to pull out on the deal after seemingly being committed, there are certain truths about politics.

FIRST is a theoretical investment. Yes I have seen the numbers, and I have seen that FIRST actually does send more kids to college, but there is no guarantee for politicians or taxpayers that those kids will go on to make back that money in Michigan, or even in America! Politics is very much a today kind of business, and voters footing the bill (mainstream America) are much more content seeing a concrete, current investment of their money, especially when there are other pressing budget issues.

That is why budgets are usually spent in their entirety, with virtually no state savings. People want to only give as much of their money to a fickle government as they have to in order to get along at the moment.
So budgets are tight, and the most pressing issues get paid for. As a few people have brought up, the economic condition in Michigan is not wonderful right now, and likely, thats where the FIRST money has evaporated to. Now, with more people worried about their current lives rather than the impending future, FIRST must be pushed under the table. Unfortunate, but perhaps necessary.

The best thing to do is just what Katie suggested. Communicate with lawmakers that FIRST is a vital and worthy investment. Perhaps Michigan should try to fund less teams at first, like half or a quarter of the remaining schools in Michigan. If anything, FIRST's infrastructure would be better off. Then move into bigger and better things.