Did you see this plan to rescue our “great” public universities?
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2009/09/next-federal-bailout-.html

My favorite part is this, which I think is almost a direct copy of the Railroad Unification Plan:

“Specifically, the federal government should create a hybrid model in which a limited number of our great public research and teaching universities receive basic operating support from the federal government and their respective state governments. Washington might initially choose a representative set of schools, perhaps based on their research achievements, their success in graduating students, commitment to public service and their record in having a student body that is broadly representative of society.

Washington would provide sufficient additional funding for operations and student support to ensure broad access and continued excellence at these universities.”

Best regards,
–Colin