Sociology: how Left universities will snatch the future from the Right!

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Orson, Aug 26, 2005.

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  1. Orson

    Orson New Member

    An amusing polemic from Northwestern University English instructor Bill Savage makes a case for optimism by the political left.

    Conventional wisdom says that US "red-states" are out reproducing those in "blue-states." Since most people vote like their parents, the future is almost guaranteed to be right!

    Savage replies - NO! Many from conservative states will seek education from leftist universities. Once in our clutches, mind-changing is almost the certain result. Open-mindedness is thus tantamout to liberalism.

    Is Savage correct? Or just another Pinky and The Brain?

    - - - - - - - -
    [Excerpt]
    "The children of red states will seek a higher education, and that education will very often happen in blue states or blue islands in red states. For the foreseeable future, loyal dittoheads will continue to drop off their children at the dorms. After a teary-eyed hug, Mom and Dad will drive their SUV off toward the nearest gas station, leaving their beloved progeny behind.

    "And then they are all mine.

    "I don't need to have kids to create mini-me voters: I get classrooms full of other people's kids, most already of voting age. And I'm not alone. As right-wing hysterics have recently noticed, universities in America are dominated by lefties like me."
    http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Content?oid=21744
     
  2. Jack Tracey

    Jack Tracey New Member

    I think that the ideas expressed by Dr. Savage are probably correct as far as they go. The big problem is that they don't go far enough. What I mean specifically is that there is a tacit assumption that "having" these students for four or six years guarantees some permanent philosophical shift. I've known lots of kids who go off to college and while they are living this fairly carefree life they adopt wholeheartedly a very liberal philosophical worldview. However, once the are out of school, scratching for a living, seeing how much of their money is taken from them through taxes, trying to buy a house, start a family, etc. many of those "liberal" college kids begin thinking in a very conservative manner. Clearly, many people have politically left philosophies and many have politically right philosophies and this will happily continue. I think it's poor critical thinking to say that if kids go to universities where they are taught by left wing professors these kids will go on to vote Democratic for the rest of their lives.
    Jack
     
  3. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    The implication is that education leads to leftiness.

    Not necessarily so; education causes the student to QUESTION. At its best it doesn't impose ANSWERS.

    I refuse to believe that the Right is made up of stupid or ignorant people or that the Left comprises bright well educated liberals.
     
  4. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Well, of course, us leftie university types have to convince the sons and daughters of all them rich people from the red states to let us brainwash them so they can give us huge endowments when their parents drop.
     
  5. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    I think that's absolutely correct.

    With any luck, it leads to a pattern of critical thinking; not leaving the assumptions of one's life unexamined. A properly-examined life often leads to leftness, but that's the secondary or consequential outcome.

    Not so at all.

    Exactly. Contrast that with right-wing, ultra-conservative, often religious higher education that does.

    Good, 'cause it's not... in either case.

    All that said...

    From Bill Savage's lips to God's ears! ;)
     

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