Conservatives Are Too Stupid For Duke University

The Collegiate Network ^ | 4/12/04

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Some years ago I saw that the only education groups who voted for the dims were those without a high school degree and those with Ph.d's. After some thought it makes sense because most of those in both groups have never had a real job.

[Khurkris]

An excellent observation. Many years ago I remember reading a paper which expounded on this trait in political/hierarchical groupings. A weakness of the fair-minded or something such as that was being postulated.

[Eva]

Well, considering that the liberals and conservatives have almost traded philosophies since the inception of the term "liberal" and "conservative," I guess that would make the present day liberals the stupid party.

[dukeman]

LOL! Well said, Curmudgeon!

[mlmr]

Of course we are intellegent. Leftist radicals who have taken over parts of the academy need to think that conservatives are stupid because to think otherwise is to require a level of diversity that they cannot comprehend. There is nothing as small minded and limited as a leftist. I think they are afraid of new ideas, or that we may be correct.

[NotQuiteCricket]

The Prince Niccolò Machiavelli

CHAPTER XXIII

HOW FLATTERERS SHOULD BE AVOIDED
(excerpt)

Therefore a wise prince ought to hold a third course by choosing the
wise men in his state, and giving to them only the liberty of speaking
the truth to him, and then only of those things of which he inquires,
and of none others; but he ought to question them upon everything, and
listen to their opinions, and afterwards form his own conclusions.
With these councillors, separately and collectively, he ought to carry
himself in such a way that each of them should know that, the more
freely he shall speak, the more he shall be preferred; outside of
these, he should listen to no one, pursue the thing resolved on, and
be steadfast in his resolutions. He who does otherwise is either
overthrown by flatterers, or is so often changed by varying opinions
that he falls into contempt.

I'd have to say that the Princes of Academia have "fallen into contempt." But, that is probably just me.

[WorldWatcher1]

Don't go to Duke, their head of Philosophy can't even do basic logic:

"If, as John Stuart Mill said, stupid people are generally conservative, then there are lots of conservatives we will never hire."

This is equivalent to saying if stupid people are generally humans, then we won't hire most humans. Get the error?

Mills never said that conservatives are stupid, just that stupid people are conservatives. Which can mean that conservatism is the obviously correct way of things, so obvious that even stupid people get it. However, in the present I would say that Mills is wrong. Stupid people have been going liberal for a while now.

[WorldWatcher1]

(Mill/Mills...you know what I mean)

[wrench]

USNA is indeed a fine school. It is difficult to attain an appointment to any of the academies, they only take top notch people.

For the incoming fall class of freshmen, Duke had over 160,000 applicants for less than 1,600 slots.

It seems many of today's youth really like great basketball along with their studies.

[knuthom]

My experience in college and grad school has been that the brightest don't necessarily get advanced degrees or stay to teach if they do get one. They often head for the real world to put their knowlege to use.

And some not-so-bright students got PhD's by being persistent. If they hung around grad school long enough, they could get their degree. And these students, who didn't want to face the real world, were the most likely to teach.

[wordsofearnest]

Dictionary says administrate is a verb. Not my quote. I believe it comes from H.L. Menecken (sp).

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - EDUCATION - UNIVERSITY

[wordsofearnest]

If these people are so damn smart, let's see them run an institution of higher learning that doesn't increase the cost of attending by multiples of inflation every year.

[Bob J]

All Brandon did was confirm the legitimacy of the statements he derided.

[Tallguy]

All Brandon did was confirm the legitimacy of the statements he derided.

And all you did by calling attention to this fact was prove that you, a conservative, are smarter than a tenured professor at Duke University. Pity that they can't get rid of him for a more intelligent replacement. Oh well.

[kennedy]

My experience with all too many liberals both inside and outside of acedemia is that they believe in their hearts that they know what is best for all of us and that the only reason conservatives keep getting elected is that the majority of the voters are stupid.

The funniest thing is that the Florida debacle proved that it is the Democrats who have to rely on votes from people who are too stupid to vote.

[Bob J]

BTW - This is the typical, some may call it congenital, tendancy of liberals to assume facts not in evidence and use them as a premise to an argument. Too often conservatives, in the emotion of the moment, accept them without consideration and immediately put themselves not only in a defensive mode, but a poor starting position.

I would respond by questioning the Professor's premise that people in academia are "smarter" than everyone else. Besides the obvious elitist tone, one could reliably make the argument that many in academia choose their profession because they are ill equipped (not smart enough) to handle the realities and competition of the real world. Instead of taking on the challenge and uncertainties of every day life that mot contend with, they retreat to the safe, comfortable world of teaching where by virtue of their position, not their accomplishments, they can lord over their subjects (students) in an environment that discourages intellectual challenges to their belief system.

[Digger]

The Gulag Archipelago. What a great read. I too was quit influenced by it. Glad to have you here.

[CollegeRepublican]

Thanks for the bump. I sent this to a friend who works at UPenn.

[dukeman]

I've found that liberals simply can't believe you might have a different view and if you do, well, you're just a little dim.