[Mike Darancette]

("eggheads", "intellectuals," "philosophers" seem to be terms of contempt.

Only when they believe that intellectualism is the end not the means to an end. To the liberal the end product of an education is the ability to spout and defend the liberal story line by rote.

[epigone73]

First of all;

a genuine education does not justify itself - nor must it - by its utility. An education is an end in itself, if it is a real education; otherwise, it's indoctrination or vocational training.

And the hostility and suspicion I have encountered in this thread from certain posters does little to dispel the image of the right-wing neanderthal. It does us no little harm, and makes us look foolish and ignorant.