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Conservatives need not apply? < "stupid people are generally conservative ">
Charleston.net ^ | Wednesday, February 11, 2004 | Editors

Posted on 02/11/2004 9:35:38 AM PST by Helms

Story last updated at 6:42 a.m. Wednesday, February 11, 2004

Conservatives need not apply?

Robert Brandon, chair of the Duke University Philosophy Department, gives this explanation of why faculties at U.S. universities usually lean to the political left: "We try to hire the best, smartest people available. If, as John Stuart Mill said, stupid people are generally conservative, then there are lots of conservatives we will never hire." Professor Brandon, expounding on the 21st century implications of that 19th century British philosopher's observation: "Mill's analysis may go some way towards explaining the power of the Republican party in our society and the relative scarcity of Republicans in academia. Players in the NBA tend to be taller than average. There is a good reason for this. Members of academia tend to be a bit smarter than average. There is a good reason for this too."

That scholarly perspective was reported in Tuesday's Duke Chronicle, the "independent daily" at the school. So were these statistics from a Duke Conservative Union study that cross-referenced the university's faculty list with North Carolina voter registration records: Of the faculty members and deans included in the survey, 128 are registered Democrats, 8 are registered Republicans and 28 are unaffiliated.

In political terms, that's a landslide.

In intellectual terms, Professor Brandon's smug thesis raises another question: If he's so bright, how could he be dim enough not only to believe such an absurd notion, but to hail it publicly?

Meanwhile, academics, like the rest of us, can be outstanding, mediocre or lousy at their jobs regardless of their political persuasions. Professors also aren't the only ones who advance interesting -- occasionally even persuasive -- theories on why conservatives are so rarely found on our nation's university faculties.

But no political party or ideology has a monopoly on intelligence -- or virtue. And that's a higher-education lesson to remember during this election year.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: academia; bias; college; education; university
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To: Helms
Robert Brandon, chair of the Duke University Philosophy Department, gives this explanation of why faculties at U.S. universities usually lean to the political left: "We try to hire the best, smartest people available. If, as John Stuart Mill said, stupid people are generally conservative, then there are lots of conservatives we will never hire." Professor Brandon, expounding on the 21st century implications of that 19th century British philosopher's observation: "Mill's analysis may go some way towards explaining the power of the Republican party in our society and the relative scarcity of Republicans in academia. Players in the NBA tend to be taller than average. There is a good reason for this. Members of academia tend to be a bit smarter than average. There is a good reason for this too."

If this is an example of his analytical skills, then the students using his books are being sorely deprived.

To wit: let's use his own example, "Players in the NBA tend to be taller than average. There is a good reason for this." Now to compare apples and apples, the analogous statement should be "Members of academia tend to be more liberal. There is a good reason for this."

In both cases, it is because the people who hire them hire those who will be team players, and be agreeable with the staff or administration, and presumably can do the job. If basketball players were turned down for the job, regardless of how well they played, simply because they were conservatives, would that mean that conservative basketball players are lousy players? I think Charles Barkley would disagree. That is what Brandon's department is doing, segregating out conservatives for their political beliefs, not their relative intelligence, and using twisted logic to justify his biased hiring. Of course, it will get to the point where conservative applicants will simply refuse to even apply, knowing his department's biases, and then he will assume (bad practice for a scientist of any sort) that only liberals are "smart" enought to be candidates for his department. This is first order cyclical reasoning. If he liked white candidates rather than black candidates, he would be called on it, but the subtleness of political orientations allows him to discriminate without risk.

If Brandon's dishonest comparisons are his "good reasons," and designed to mask his bias, and he should be called on it. It is a disservice to the university and the students. Maybe conservatives need "affirmative action" LOL!

Publicly presenting such an illogical argument is a testament to his own arrogance and lack of intelligence. That, and tenure.

81 posted on 02/11/2004 11:09:17 AM PST by SpinyNorman
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To: Phantom Lord
Also, Dick Cheney. They can't tag him with the stupid label, so he's portrayed as mean/evil.
82 posted on 02/11/2004 11:10:38 AM PST by Cooter
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To: Helms
Is it just me, or does ignorance go hand in hand with liberalism and terrorism?

That is what Sean Hannity's new book must be all about. Definitely a must-read!

83 posted on 02/11/2004 11:12:18 AM PST by SpinyNorman
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To: AmericanVictory
Anyone who has read Mill, of course, realizes that to him, and in 19th century England generally, "liberal" meant being free market oriented as opposed to those of inherited wealth in the British aristocracy, who believed in status. The terms have almost, but not quite, been completely reversed today in America. A "liberal" in 19th century England today in America would be considered libertarian conservative. It is somewhat dishonest for a professor of philosophy at a leading university to use Mill's version of liberalism as if it were equivalent to the Statists who call themselves liberal in America today. Mill had no confidence in the mechamisms of the State nor in the kind of speech fascism that is attendant upon modern American "liberalism."

Right. John Stuart Mill was a 'classical liberal' and a a rationalist would be aghast at the socialistic pretensions and irrational behavior of the 'liberal' elites.

The trashing at Duke today of what today are labeled "conservative" thinkers and speakers and students would be appalling to John Stuart Mill. Any decent intellectual would be ashamed of the vast wasteland that US humanities depts have become. They are barbaric palaces where yahoos scream insults at people and things that are decent, honorable and wise. The base their belief systems on easily refutable foundation and survive only through intimidation of views that are contrary; the whole PC facade survives through repression of opposition. They are the inmates and they run the asylum. Mill would be appalled.

84 posted on 02/11/2004 11:13:30 AM PST by WOSG (Support Tancredo on immigration. Support BUSH for President!)
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To: sirshackleton
I don't think that it is that conservatives are 'stupid', but that the liberal idiots don't know how to function intellectually when someone is constantly challenging thier beliefs. In other words, "Don't confuse me with the truth!"
85 posted on 02/11/2004 11:15:23 AM PST by sandbar
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To: Helms
If, as John Stuart Mill said, stupid people are generally conservative

In addition to all of the other debunking going on, let me point out that the term "conservative" does not necessarily mean the same thing today as it did in Mill's time. The Founding Fathers would be considered very conservative in today's language, but were radically liberal in their own times.

The terms "liberal" and "conservative" are poorly applied. They, along with "moderate", should be modifiers, not nouns. The real divisions are "individualist" vs. "statist/collectivist". Today's "liberals" are what I would call moderate-to-liberal collectivists. The majority of Republican elected officials are in the conservative collectivist to conservative individualist ranges (with obvious exceptions like Licoln Chafee [moderate collectivist] and Ran Paul [liberal individualist]). The average FR member is probably a conservative to moderate individualist, with a significant minority of liberal individualists and conservative collectivists.

86 posted on 02/11/2004 11:16:47 AM PST by kevkrom (Ask your Congresscritter about his or her stance on HR 25 -- the NRST)
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To: Helms
He finally stated publicly what they tell themselves and each other privately. And they wonder why the lovely and talented Ms. Ingraham calls them 'elites'??
87 posted on 02/11/2004 11:17:30 AM PST by BlueNgold (Feed the Tree .....)
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To: Bigun
Hey, I was a teacher! Of course, I planned on teaching until I had kids, which makes me not fit in with the others. I quit 3 years ago when I had my kids too. Now that I have carefully removed myself from being a stereotypical teacher (there were only a handful of us), I would have to say that a minimum 85% of all teachers are jerks that not only have forgotten that they used to be kids, they have forgotten how to think for themselves.

Let me also say that I had a college prof tell our class that acid was safer to do than weed. Oh yeah, she was one of the best and brightest alright! (sarcasm)
88 posted on 02/11/2004 11:19:43 AM PST by WV Mountain Mama (Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? How many just sang that line?)
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To: Helms; Right Wing Professor
I have an IQ of 150, did well throughout my schooling, and have a PhD from a top University (UIUC). And I'm conservative.

I never considered an academic career IN PART because the Universities are nests of liberal PC nonsense and my "karma" couldnt tolerate being in such a depressing environment and seeing such cr*p all the time. Moreover, I've seen enough bias in academia to know that white male conservatives would not be treated as well as others. For example, if I was wearing a dress instead of a suit, a PhD in my area would be enough to get a much more prestigious position ("affirmative action" and "diversity"ya know). The odds are stacked against the white male conservatives and i'd rather not play that game.

Plus, I didnt want to be a closeted conservative just to have a job.

I salute the conservatives who ARE on campus, on the front lines of the cultural and political battles. My hat's off to you!
89 posted on 02/11/2004 11:20:57 AM PST by WOSG (Support Tancredo on immigration. Support BUSH for President!)
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To: sirshackleton
Furthermore, how could he forget all those buttons on his shirt in that picture.....

Twenty five years ago it worked like a charm on the coeds and he's never gotten over it.

90 posted on 02/11/2004 11:22:24 AM PST by metesky ("Brethren, leave us go amongst them." Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton - Ward Bond- The Searchers)
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To: Helms
Those that can do, do! Those that can't do,become faculity.
91 posted on 02/11/2004 11:30:29 AM PST by Big Mack (I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain TO EAT VEGETABLES!)
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To: All
Members of academia tend to be a bit smarter than average

Members of academia tend to find it difficult supporting themselves in the working world. Members of academia tend to depend of tenure to provide their income.

92 posted on 02/11/2004 11:33:57 AM PST by thackney (Life is Fragile, Handle with Prayer)
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To: Helms
IMHO, true intellect doesn't come from being able to quote textbooks and former professors (as many libs have a talent for). True intelligence is taking what you have learned and still being able to think for oneself.
93 posted on 02/11/2004 11:39:42 AM PST by HungarianGypsy
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To: Plutarch
This professor may have a point. I've often thought that conservatives who donate to colleges are funding their enemies -- and that's a stupid thing to do.
94 posted on 02/11/2004 11:42:12 AM PST by 68skylark
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As a stupid rebulican I had a few questions for this mental giant. I asked him why the voters of the mentally superior party-couldn't figure out a simple ballot,- are trying to lower test scores so that even they could graduate (even after multiple chances), and on and on. I then informed him that without these moronic millions, and the slightly more intelligent communists that lead them, there would NEVER be another democrat in the Whitehouse. Then I called him an idiot, and told him to enjoy the November elections. Because I know I will.
95 posted on 02/11/2004 11:45:59 AM PST by zygoat
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To: Helms
This professor lends credence to the evolutionary theory that he is a descendant of monkeys.
96 posted on 02/11/2004 11:47:52 AM PST by AppauledAtAppeasementConservat (An educated fool, in the end, is still a fool.)
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To: Helms
Not everyone who lacks critical thinking skills is Liberal, but all Liberals lack critical thinking skills.
97 posted on 02/11/2004 11:48:50 AM PST by ahumblefan
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To: Helms
A Legend in His Own Mind!!

Just another snobish, elitist, liberal democratic career student.

98 posted on 02/11/2004 11:49:41 AM PST by TexasCajun
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To: Helms
To an academic, there is no greater fear than intellectual scorn. Hence the conformity among them.

In addition, many facutly searches boil down to answering "Would this applicant make a colleague with whom we could work for years to come?" Change "colleague" to "comrade"....
99 posted on 02/11/2004 11:50:45 AM PST by mj81
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To: DoctorMichael
"Alas, the principles of Conservatism, such as smaller government, are looked down upon by those who depend on the government for their daily bread."

Seeing alot of these liberals lately crying at the thought of being weened from the government teet.
100 posted on 02/11/2004 11:51:41 AM PST by AppauledAtAppeasementConservat (An educated fool, in the end, is still a fool.)
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