When Elites Sue to Cut the Cord, We All Win

You all should know by now, my disdain for government funded adult education, right?

Stop the presses: Harvard .. the crown jewel of smug, ivy-covered federal favoritism—is suing the government because it doesn’t like the strings attached to its free money.

Let that sink in.

The same Harvard that churns out regulatory drones faster than a PCR test lab at peak COVID… now wants federal dollars without federal oversight. And the Biden administration, doing its part to weaponize DEI bureaucracy like a rusty scythe, is suddenly being challenged by one of its own ideological darlings.

Delicious.

Here’s the kicker: no matter who wins this cage match, taxpayers—and common sense—might finally catch a break.

If the Government Wins…

We get long-overdue accountability for elite schools. Harvard and its DEI empire would be forced to comply with the very civil rights standards they’ve been flouting (and selectively enforcing). It might even mean that antisemitism masquerading as social justice gets called out for what it is.

Accountability. Transparency. A gut check for institutions drunk on their own moral superiority.

But If Harvard Wins?

Cue the champagne—because suddenly everyone receiving federal funds gets a new lease on life.

You mean we can take the money without bending over for every federal whim?

Without:

• Mandated prevailing wage rules that drive road costs through the roof?
• Bicycle lanes on rural bridge projects that connect more cows than commuters?
• “Climate resilience” reports for paving a parking lot?
• DEI reporting metrics just to qualify for basic infrastructure dollars?
• If Harvard can say “no thanks” to Uncle Sam’s fine print, what’s stopping a small-town road commission from doing the same?

Interesting.

Michigan’s Real-World Example: Beulah’s $12M Sewer Saga

A time constraint, but take the village of Beulah, Michigan. With just around 400 sewer customers, Beulah faces a $12.125 million state-mandated upgrade to its wastewater treatment plant, required by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). While the village has secured $3 million in grants, including $2 million from the state and a potential $1 million in federal funding, it still needs to finance $9.125 million through a USDA loan. This could increase sewer rates by over 200%, potentially forcing some residents to leave. The project, prompted by long-standing violations, requires replacing the entire plant by November 2026.

And don’t even get me started about the Headlee responsibility here.  The folks in Beulah need to hire a champion I think.

Either Way, the Mask Slips

The broader truth is now on full display: federal funds are never free. They’re loaded with ideological strings, often unrelated to the task at hand. And Harvard—yes, Harvard—is doing us all a favor by challenging that very arrangement.

If the courts let them off the hook, it sets a precedent that recipients of federal funds don’t owe ideological fealty to the federal bureaucracy. And if they lose? Even better—they get held accountable for the culture they’ve helped break.

So grab your popcorn. The ivory tower is finally getting a taste of the regulatory medicine it so gleefully prescribed to the rest of us. And no matter the outcome, the rest of America finally gets to read the fine print on the back of the check.

You Betcha! (5)Nuh Uh.(0)