1ac+CTE+BFHR+BD

State pension crisis is happening and will collapse the economy
Some experts think it will be the trigger for the next financial collapse. Others AND yields, corporate pensions are struggling to meet their ever-increasing obligations.
 * Garret 6/9** (Olivier Garret, founding Partner and CEO of Mauldin Economics and Garret/Galland Research, 6-9-2017, "The Disturbing Trend That Will End in a Full-Fledged Pension Crisis," Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliviergarret/2017/06/09/the-disturbing-trend-that-will-end-in-a-full-fledged-pension-crisis/#2474218b6620, Accessed: 7-14-2017 /Kent Denver-NK)

The impact is diversionary war
If the U.S. economy tanks, should we expect Donald Trump to AND ramifications of an economic downturn with a President Trump in the White House.
 * Foster 12/19 [Dennis M.**, professor of international studies and political science at the Virginia Military Institute, 12/19/16, "Would President Trump go to war to divert attention from problems at home?," http://inhomelandsecurity.com/would-president-trump-go-to-war-to-divert-attention-from-problems-at-home]

Federal CTE funding critical to avoid impending budget crisis and stimulate economic growth
The National Governors Association (NGA) doesn't often wade into debates over federal appropriations AND to ensure students are prepared for a 21st century economy," NGA said.
 * CCD 17**, [Published by the American Association of Community Colleges, 6-23-2017, "Governors support CTE, job-training funding – Community College Daily," Community College Daily, http://www.ccdaily.com/2017/05/governors-support-cte-job-training-funding/]

CTE stimulates economic growth through a staggering multiplier effect and rescues state budgets
For every dollar Wisconsin taxpayers invest in their technical college system, they get back AND . "We have been very fortunate and very pleased with their performance."
 * Ogul 17 –** writer for Orlando Sentinel (David, "How to improve a state economy through technical education", 2/17/17, Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/brandpublishing/forstudentsnotprofit/os-how-to-improve-a-state-economy-20170217-story.html//GHS-AK)

====States increasing funding on their own would run afoul of balanced-budget requirements and further downgrade their creditworthiness —- only increasing federal block grant spending can solve fiscal shortfalls==== Gamage 10 [David Gamage, Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall), "Preventing State Budget Crises: Managing the Fiscal Volatility Problem," California Law Review, 98 Calif. L. Rev. 749, June, 2010, lexis] Politicians generally benefit both from cutting taxes and from increasing spending on popular programs. AND , thereby reducing its potential to provide countercyclical support. 4:14

The US is falling behind in STEM education – revitalizing it is key to science diplomacy
The most daunting challenges that governments face are technologically demanding and global in scope: AND ensuring safer food and water supplies, and improving national defense. Science
 * Hajjar et al 15** (David P. Hajjar - nonresident senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings, and is dean emeritus and distinguished professor of pathology and biochemistry at Weill Cornell Medicine at Cornell University. He has had 35 years of experience as a medical educator and researcher, having published widely on heart disease. Based on his experience as a Fulbright scholar, Harvard-Kennedy senior fellow on science policy and diplomacy, and as a Jefferson Science fellow in the U.S. State Department as a foreign affairs officer, his current research has now focused on educational science policy issues as they relate to human health and disease; Joshua Richardson - Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences; Kimberly Coleman - "Role for Diplomacy in Advancing Global Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Policies in the Twenty-First Century" - Seton Hall Journal of Diplomacy and International Relations – Summer 2015 - http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/whith16&div=29&id=&page=)/TK

The plan solves - CTE is key to STEM education
Experiential, work-based career and technical education programs are receiving attention from policymakers AND community college students with internship positions at one of 15 national energy laboratories.
 * Wolfe 6/26**/17 (Alexis Wolfe - science policy analyst and writer for FYI and is currently working on expanding FYI's multimedia portfolio. Prior to joining AIP, she was an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Fellow and NOAA Sea Grant Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy, focusing on science communication – "Career and Technical Education Emerging as Vehicle for STEM in Trump Era" – 6/26/17 - https://www.aip.org/fyi/2017/career-and-technical-education-emerging-vehicle-stem-trump-era)/TK

Science diplomacy is key to solve multiple global threats – climate change, cyber security, trade, health, and great power relations
At U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's side when he negotiated a AND frontier research in fields such as astrophysics, all drawing on Indian talent.
 * Nichols 15** (Rodney W. Nichols - President and CEO Emeritus of the New York Academy of Sciences and former Executive Vice President of the Rockefeller University – "Why Diplomacy and Science Need Each Other" – 6/25/15 - https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2015-06-25/hardly-academic)/TK

STEM education is key to resolve climate change
Climate change is a complex scientific and social problem. Effectively dealing with it presents AND address a real world problem that has wide-ranging societal implications.
 * McCright et al 13** (Aaron M. McCright - Professor of Sociology in Lyman Briggs College and the Department of Sociology at Michigan State University; Brian O'Shea - associate professor at Michigan State University, with a joint appointment in The Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory; Ryan Sweeder - member of Michigan State University's CREATE for STEM Institute, Ph.D. at the University of Michigan in Inorganic Chemistry and Chemistry Education, Associate Professor Lyman Briggs College -Michigan State University; Gerard R Urquhart - tropical ecologist and an assistant professor of biology at Michigan State University; Aklilu Zeleke - received his Ph.D. from Temple University in 1997 and joined the faculty at Alma College where he rose through the ranks to become an Associate Professor at MSU – "Promoting Interdisciplinarity Through Climate Change Education" – 7/14/13 - https://msu.edu/urquhart/professional/Nature-Climate-Change-McCright-2013.pdf)/TK

Warming risks extinction

 * Torres 2016** -Director of the X-Risks Institute

Phil and Peter Boghossian [prof of philosophy @ Portland State], "The Looming Extinction of Humankind, Explained," Aug 18, motherboard.vice.com/en_au/read/armageddon-comma-explained AND technology, and the growth of religious extremism worldwide. 6:01
 * Rees – Sir Martin Rees, co-founder of the Centre for the

Severe food shortages are coming now – they will ensure multiple paths to extinction – and a lack of academic interest increases the odds
World War III is unimaginable for many, but some experts believe that not only AND find ways to solve the problem before it becomes something they cannot control.
 * Heneghan 15** [Carolyn, freelance writer with experience in food and agriculture systems around the world, "Where food crises and global conflict could collide" Fooddive 1/22/15, http://www.fooddive.com/news/where-food-crises-and-global-conflict-could-collide/350837 //GK]

US agriculture ships internationally – that's key to global food security
Improving global food security should be a U.S. priority because it is AND companies spending $8 billion to build infrastructure and supply chains in Africa.
 * Edmark 15** [Dave, U of A System Division of Agriculture, "Food security vital for national interests, world markets," Cattle News Network 10/23/15, http://www.cattlenetwork.com/news/food- security-vital- national-interests- world-markets //GK]

The need for skilled agriculture workers will continue to grow – improving CTE is critical to ensure a sufficient amount of graduates
Considering retirement rates, the need to supply the STEM pipeline, and the worlds' AND take on the challenges of the future for the betterment of our society.
 * Willis 17** [Victoria, masters in agricultural education from Clemson University, "Nurturing our Established Roots: The Smith-Hughes Act as a Model for Agricultural Education Career Preparation" The Agricultural Education Magazine Vol 89 Issue 4, January 2017, pg 27 //GK]

====CTE ensures agricultural literacy, improves student perception of agricultural careers, and increases enrollment in urban schools – that causes an influx of new workers to sustain the agricultural sector==== One of the reasons there is a need to expand CTE in general, but AND mechanics pathway was researched and planned, with the intent of rapid adoption.
 * Trexler 16** [Tiffany, masters of science in agricultural education from California State University, Chico, "THE ADDITION OF AN AGRICULTURE MECHANICS PATHWAY TO BEAR CREEK HIGH SCHOOL" CSU Chico spring 2016, pgs 12-15 //GK]

Plan/solvency
====The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding of secondary career and technical education, including increasing formula grants distributed to states, establishing of a CTE Pathways Trust Fund, and expanding Social Innovation Financing.====

The plan galvanizes private sector support for secondary CTE education through social innovation financing and competitive grants
Hasak 16 [Jonathan Hasak is a Manager of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Year Up, graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a former Teach for America corps member who taught in the Oakland Unified School District, "A summer surprise: the case for CTE reform," 7/1/16, http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/education/286111-a-summer-surprise-the-case-for-cte-reform] In less than 16 days, the United States Congress will adjourn for their summer AND remaining days in session to reauthorize the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act.

Linking high schools to CTE programs administered by the private sector ensures the development of a workforce that overcomes looming productivity and skills gaps
Jackson and Hasak 14 [John H. Jackson is the president and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education, held leadership positions at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and has served as an adjunct professor of Race, Gender, and Public Policy at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and Jonathan Hasak is a recent graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Manager of Public Policy and Government Affairs at Year Up, "Look Beyond The Label: Reframing, Reimagining, and Reinvesting in CTE," American Educator, Fall 2014, https://www.aft.org/ae/fall2014/jackson_hasak] 2. Address the Student-Readiness and Teaching-Training Gaps Despite being AND greater efficiency, increased student choice, and wider access to education.18

Social innovation financing reduces runaway spending and encourages competition
Last week we examined why strong leadership is essential to public-sector innovation. AND what makes an agency's culture most able to innovate. 1:32
 * Costa 11** [Kristina Costa, Special Assistant at the Center for American Progress. 10-19-2011 "Financing Tools for Social Innovation," Center for American Progress, https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/general/news/2011/10/19/10435/innovation-for-the-public-good-financing-tools-for-social-innovation/] /adres

Political nihilism spreads beyond the classroom – it empowers violent conservatives like Trump – forsaking compromise is a dangerous, academic luxury
On the surface, it would seem that intellectuals have nothing to do with the AND us have to figure out what to do with the one we have.
 * Claudio, 16** —- assistant professor of development studies and southeast Asian studies at the Ateneo de Manila University (7/1/2016, Lisandro, "Intellectuals have ushered the world into a dangerous age of political nihilism," qz.com/721914/intellectuals-have-ushered-the-world-into-a-dangerous-age-of-political-nihilism/)

Focus on interim gains is valuable and culminates in revolutionary politics – rejection of that state leads to inevitable failure
(William, "The Fragility of Things," p. 36-42) A philosophy attending to the acceleration, expansion, irrationalities, interdependencies, and fragilities AND state actions, and large-scale, cross-state citizen actions.
 * Connolly 13** – Professor of Political Science @ JHU