Democrat or Republican

[Gandalf]

Miles there is a quote that I don't remember verbatim but the gist is you'd rather have control over a school board than a legistlation. Basically if you control the education system then ultimately you will control the politics. My college experience was that many of my professors had never worked in the private sector and were woefully disconnected from reality. Whether they consciously lectured a certain way I can't say but considering their job it was of course in their best interest to promote and foster big gov't ideals.

I don't see the connection really. Sure a school board can influence viewpoints, but ultimately big corporations are funding elections and the parties are setting the agenda. I don't think the views of ordinary people are reflected in US party politics.

As for academics, I would be surprised if Bilbo's figure was accurate. How can you measure such a stat? I think academia is a more open avenue than politics, but having said that these people would be foolish for going against the grain too strongly. Chomsky has lectured on this, most people are just looking for their niche and they stay within it. You don't defy the system and try to break it. I look at my own degree in politics to see how much I have rebelled from the prescribed course. You will get liberal professors, but those who have influence are more likely to be from the conservative areas.

I can't find the exact article but if you google 'Why are professors liberals' you will see it's a very well known truth and one that sociologists have tried to determine why.

Browsing some of the articles it looks like an quite interesting subject with all kinds of different, and polarising viewpoints. If you read up on it we can argue over the conclusions and add a whole new reportoire to our debates.

Possibly a good idea, I will think about that. My current thing is superhero's and villains though.

[Kev]

Miles there is a quote that I don't remember verbatim but the gist is you'd rather have control over a school board than a legistlation. Basically if you control the education system then ultimately you will control the politics. My college experience was that many of my professors had never worked in the private sector and were woefully disconnected from reality. Whether they consciously lectured a certain way I can't say but considering their job it was of course in their best interest to promote and foster big gov't ideals.

I don't see the connection really. Sure a school board can influence viewpoints, but ultimately big corporations are funding elections and the parties are setting the agenda. I don't think the views of ordinary people are reflected in US party politics.

As for academics, I would be surprised if Bilbo's figure was accurate. How can you measure such a stat? I think academia is a more open avenue than politics, but having said that these people would be foolish for going against the grain too strongly. Chomsky has lectured on this, most people are just looking for their niche and they stay within it. You don't defy the system and try to break it. I look at my own degree in politics to see how much I have rebelled from the prescribed course. You will get liberal professors, but those who have influence are more likely to be from the conservative areas.

I can't find the exact article but if you google 'Why are professors liberals' you will see it's a very well known truth and one that sociologists have tried to determine why.

Browsing some of the articles it looks like an quite interesting subject with all kinds of different, and polarising viewpoints. If you read up on it we can argue over the conclusions and add a whole new reportoire to our debates.

Possibly a good idea, I will think about that. My current thing is superhero's and villains though.

haha this is a try to stay calm week and lower your blood pressure week yeah?

[Gandalf]

Miles there is a quote that I don't remember verbatim but the gist is you'd rather have control over a school board than a legistlation. Basically if you control the education system then ultimately you will control the politics. My college experience was that many of my professors had never worked in the private sector and were woefully disconnected from reality. Whether they consciously lectured a certain way I can't say but considering their job it was of course in their best interest to promote and foster big gov't ideals.

I don't see the connection really. Sure a school board can influence viewpoints, but ultimately big corporations are funding elections and the parties are setting the agenda. I don't think the views of ordinary people are reflected in US party politics.

As for academics, I would be surprised if Bilbo's figure was accurate. How can you measure such a stat? I think academia is a more open avenue than politics, but having said that these people would be foolish for going against the grain too strongly. Chomsky has lectured on this, most people are just looking for their niche and they stay within it. You don't defy the system and try to break it. I look at my own degree in politics to see how much I have rebelled from the prescribed course. You will get liberal professors, but those who have influence are more likely to be from the conservative areas.

I can't find the exact article but if you google 'Why are professors liberals' you will see it's a very well known truth and one that sociologists have tried to determine why.

Browsing some of the articles it looks like an quite interesting subject with all kinds of different, and polarising viewpoints. If you read up on it we can argue over the conclusions and add a whole new reportoire to our debates.

Possibly a good idea, I will think about that. My current thing is superhero's and villains though.

haha this is a try to stay calm week and lower your blood pressure week yeah?

Not really, but I don't really start so many of those types of threads these days. My politics quota is much reduced. Though I will comment given the opportunity. In a veiled way, I guess my other threads do act in a similar kind of way.