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Hmmm, so Ken21 offers no evidence whatsoever about the role of college professors in public life before World War II. I mention one very prominent former college prof who mattered deeply. And now I'm the person who's using inadequate evidence?! LOL.

I'm guessing that none of us is old enough to have been an adult before World War II, so his, your, and my beliefs are going to have to be based on some evidence other than personal experience. What's your basis for saying that college profs didn't matter before WWII? It's cheap to charge me with arguing from anecdotal evidence; pretty darn good anecdote, btw. So put up some alternative evidence.

Now, on a separate point--maybe college profs don't matter today. I actually think college profs are largely irrelevant to contemporary politics and less relevant to politics now than before World War II. That's one of the reasons why I'm surprised that anyone cares what happens to Larry Summers. If what's happening at colleges is really irrelevant, though, one must ask why so many are concerned with what's happening at Harvard? Or Columbia? Or what books Harvard University Press is publishing?

1. Please understand, I 'm not saying you're using inadequate evidence, I'm saying you're using BOGUS evidence! Woodrow Wilson became visible enough to be POTUS because he was PRESIDENT of Princeton and, more importantly, HE WAS GOVERNOR OF NJ! Two points you conveniently forgot to mention. His "visibility" as a teaching professor was well before his presidency. Do you believe GWB has raised the "visibility" of MLB team owners by becoming POTUS? (not)

2. I think Ken21's original point was obvious and needed no further "evidence". Hell, how many people even went to college back before WW2?

3. Any other bogus points you want to raise lefty? Or maybe you just want to post another wonderfully insightful article from The Guardian? Either way I'm wasting no nore time with you!