|
The country where learning is a grave political disadvantage (pg. 3)
|
View this Thread in Original format
| gehzumteufel |
| quote: | Originally posted by UWM
Or it's because the United States chooses to spend all of it's money on military spending instead of education. |
That doesn't dictate what the states choose to do. The US is full of anti-tax idiots that think they can have their cake and eat it to. They want really good schools, but leave taxes at the same level and expect schools with ever increasing costs, to make up the difference. It just isn't happening.
| quote: | Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On
Gesundheit, there's a Brian Peppers running amok in your avatar space. :o :wtf: |
LOL yeah. I am bored at work. |
|
|
| Clovis |
I don't think pragmatism has anything to do with it. Its a symptom of popular culture in the last few years. We just don't value smart people, intellectual thought, or education in general.
You can see it in this election. Apparently a Harvard Degree is not good enough to be president of the United States. I wonder, then, what degree is, and by that stretch is our entire education system a failure since one of our most prestigious schools is not capable of producing presidential material.
At least the republicans have me pondering this... |
|
|
| Halcyon+On+On |
Did anti-intellectualism lead to excessive military spending or did excessive military spending lead to anti-intellectualism?
do ho ho |
|
|
| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
The anti-intellectualism has been around a lot longer than the huge military budget. I think it's a cultural thing. |
Also, a lot of idealizing of the "pioneer heritage" goes on in American images of history and even politics. What is valuable to a homesteading pioneer? Not a library or knowledge of philosophy or literature, but practical skill and hardy physical strength.
IMO lots of Americans still hold the "rural type" -- self-reliant (not attached to an institution), physically tough, emotionally unshakable -- as the ideal, and they see "intellectualism" as the opposite of that. |
|
|
| Project-K |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
The anti-intellectualism has been around a lot longer than the huge military budget. I think it's a cultural thing. |
I think americans are just scared less. Everything about contemporary american media; "news" shows, "documentaries", hollywood movies, tv series, music, etc, all cultivates this incredibly pessimistic and conservative view of the world. So what it all comes down to is that, when you're curled up in your little corner shivering, rocking back and forth and thinking everyone is out to hurt you, you're not going to bother listening to the intellectual rambling about his optimistic vision of hope for the future, especially when the guy next to him is offering to give you a gun and ammo. |
|
|
| Clovis |
BTW Arnold (governor of california) just announced 2-4 billion dollar cuts for california schools yesterday in the face of a 10 billion dollar budget deficit.
That should tell you how much we value education. |
|
|
| UWM |
| quote: | Originally posted by Clovis
I don't think pragmatism has anything to do with it. Its a symptom of popular culture in the last few years. We just don't value smart people, intellectual thought, or education in general.
You can see it in this election. Apparently a Harvard Degree is not good enough to be president of the United States. I wonder, then, what degree is, and by that stretch is our entire education system a failure since one of our most prestigious schools is not capable of producing presidential material.
At least the republicans have me pondering this... |
Don't you get it? It's better to be a Miller Lite-guzzling backwoods retard with a second mortgage and a GED. At least this way you can sympathize with the 'common man' and feel their needs. The fact that you've dug yourself out of a life of destitude and poverty to attend Ivy League universities means nothing. What American dream? |
|
|
| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by Project-K
I think americans are just scared less. Everything about contemporary american media; "news" shows, "documentaries", hollywood movies, tv series, music, etc, all cultivates this incredibly pessimistic and conservative view of the world. So what it all comes down to is that, when you're curled up in your little corner shivering, rocking back and forth and thinking everyone is out to hurt you, you're not going to bother listening to the intellectual rambling about his optimistic vision of hope for the future, especially when the guy next to him is offering to give you a gun and ammo. |
Well, like I said, I think this has very little to do with current events and fears. Anti-intellectualism has been around a looooooooong time in the U.S., far longer than any of our current political dilemmas. |
|
|
| Moral Hazard |
| quote: | Originally posted by elFreak
which can probably be attributed to a large population living very far from cultural centers in the US. |
This and that the majority of US citizens (historically) were not well educated. This resulted in a cleavage between the educated few and the uneducated masses... a cleavage that has been used as a political tool to garner mass support by the electorate; usually by inflaming fears that the intellectuals control everything to the detriment of the common man. |
|
|
| gehzumteufel |
| quote: | Originally posted by Clovis
BTW Arnold (governor of california) just announced 2-4 billion dollar cuts for california schools yesterday in the face of a 10 billion dollar budget deficit.
That should tell you how much we value education. |
Exactly what I was getting at. We as a people don't give 2 s about education funding, yet we want our kids to have a good education. |
|
|
| Project-K |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
Well, like I said, I think this has very little to do with current events and fears. Anti-intellectualism has been around a looooooooong time in the U.S., far longer than any of our current political dilemmas. |
That's true, but if it is part of the culture, then current political affairs are going to be interpreted in a way that's consistant with that culture. 9-11 made americans go bat crazy, but then so did the cold war, and both world wars, and so on in that fashion. If you look at 1950s propaganda about how evil communists are out to get you, then look at what gets broadcasted on CNN on a daily basis, they're not all that different. |
|
|
| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by elFreak
speaking of which Lira, has hardly been practical. Would you agree? |
:stongue:
Funny how my fiancée is deeply annoyed by that. I suck at being practical :toothless
| quote: | Originally posted by Renzo
I mean, when's the last time you met a Japanese kid who sucked at math? And when's the last time you met a Japanese whore who couldn't suck a good dick? You know...just saying. |
Well... I've never had a non-Japane... erm... never mind :p |
|
|
|
|
