next »

[t_r_b]

I was also half joking because I, too, am a firm believer that "making a judgement !=closed-minded".  One of the things that irritates me most about liberals who are just mouthing the party line is the fact that they don't realize "Keeping an open mind to the point that your brains fall out is going too far".  A too open mind that won't make judgements because "that would be intolerant" is the next worst thing to a completely closed mind.

And let's face it: there are plenty of extremely closed minded and intolerant people on the left, and some quite tolerant and open minded folks on the right. And far more people of all sorts somewhere in between the two, which calls into question the usefulness of the distinction for anything other than organizing nitwit cable news debate shows.

I couldn't care less about the politics of academics. I do care about their open mindedness and tolerance. There are too many intolerant and closed minded people teaching at the college level in this country, and that is a problem. The proportion of "conservatives" (however you choose to define that term) is not.

[georgia_guy]

First, let me jump in on the whole "conservative" thing. Keep in mind that this means different things to different people. To some, "conservative" means the Pat Robertson/Jerry Falwell religious right. However, there are many people who consider themselves conservatives that find the religious right viewpoint to be antithetical to the true conservative point of view. For example, the religious right pushes for abortion bans, blue laws, etc. To those who view conservativism as a call for smaller government and less intrusion into people's lives, that is anethema.

Now, on a different note, why are conservatives a minority in academia. I think this is pretty straightforward. Higher education does not pay very well. The conservative mindset views financial success as one of the keys to overall happiness. Therefore, conservatives are more likely to go into corporate careers than academia. This is the same reason why the press is liberal in its orientation. There are very few conservative members of the press, because the money stinks.

I seriously doubt that few would argue that Bill Gates lacks the intellectual capacity to be a Ph.D. On the other hand, getting the degree might have cost him billions of dollars.

[polly_mer]

There are very few conservative members of the press, because the money stinks.

C'mon, what about Rush and Fox News? 

<For the humor impaired, many conservatives in Georgia_Guy's sense of "small government combined with personal responsibility" also think "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" and that Fox News is a silly attempt to combat a bias in CNN reporting by dealing with the same stories with different talking heads instead of focusing on more important news.>

[georgia_guy]

There are very few conservative members of the press, because the money stinks.

C'mon, what about Rush and Fox News? 

<For the humor impaired, many conservatives in Georgia_Guy's sense of "small government combined with personal responsibility" also think "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" and that Fox News is a silly attempt to combat a bias in CNN reporting by dealing with the same stories with different talking heads instead of focusing on more important news.>

<looks around for the hidden camera>
Ok, you seem to have me figured out :)

[polly_mer]

There are very few conservative members of the press, because the money stinks.

C'mon, what about Rush and Fox News? 

<For the humor impaired, many conservatives in Georgia_Guy's sense of "small government combined with personal responsibility" also think "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" and that Fox News is a silly attempt to combat a bias in CNN reporting by dealing with the same stories with different talking heads instead of focusing on more important news.>

<looks around for the hidden camera>
Ok, you seem to have me figured out :)

It's not that hard, considering I think we live in the same camp.  (Try behind the bookcase next to the desk.)

[chubbytiger]

There are very few conservative members of the press, because the money stinks.

C'mon, what about Rush and Fox News? 

<For the humor impaired, many conservatives in Georgia_Guy's sense of "small government combined with personal responsibility" also think "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" and that Fox News is a silly attempt to combat a bias in CNN reporting by dealing with the same stories with different talking heads instead of focusing on more important news.>

<looks around for the hidden camera>
Ok, you seem to have me figured out :)

It's not that hard, considering I think we live in the same camp.  (Try behind the bookcase next to the desk.)

I think I like your camp.  Do you have a newsletter to which I might subscribe?

Seriously, though, as a pretty old-school Conservative and junior faculty, there are many times that I'm afraid to speak my mind in meetings, etc.  Many of the more vocal senior faculty make it very clear that they do not approve of such things.  Very, very clear.

[canadatourismguy]

Being Canadian and living in the USA, I do not get to vote - so take this opinion with a grain of salt.

I would describe my leanings as fiscally conservative but socially liberal...where does that leave me? 

I think the government should really prioritize and limit spending but where I think they should spend the most is in traditional liberal areas, education, health care and social welfare.  I believe these areas are the right places to spend not because of social responsibility but rather because I feel that these are the best places to invest in to help the USA to become more competitive in the world market place and grow the economy.    You are as strong as the weakest link of the chain philosophy. 

I have had USA students tell me that my views are both conservative and liberal.   If I was allowed to vote in the presidential election, I have no idea who I would vote for (except perhaps for none of the above).   So what am I?  Does it really matter? 

A confused,

CTG

[dolljepopp]

Does that mean I'm a liberal and have to like modern art and wear the "white privilege" sticker?  I sure hope not. 

Actually, it's available as a fashionable t-shirt now.




And, yes, you have to like modern art...

[chubbytiger]

Being Canadian and living in the USA, I do not get to vote - so take this opinion with a grain of salt.

I would describe my leanings as fiscally conservative but socially liberal...where does that leave me? 

I think the government should really prioritize and limit spending but where I think they should spend the most is in traditional liberal areas, education, health care and social welfare.  I believe these areas are the right places to spend not because of social responsibility but rather because I feel that these are the best places to invest in to help the USA to become more competitive in the world market place and grow the economy.    You are as strong as the weakest link of the chain philosophy. 

I have had USA students tell me that my views are both conservative and liberal.   If I was allowed to vote in the presidential election, I have no idea who I would vote for (except perhaps for none of the above).   So what am I?  Does it really matter? 

A confused,

CTG

It probably doesn't matter, but you sound most like a democrat with (maybe) a libertarian bent.  In American politics, the 'traditional' areas that you mentioned are probably military and infrastructure.  Healthcare and welfare are generally seen as seen as bad by conservatives.  Even it you want to limit spending to some degree, you list the traditional 'liberal' places to spend it.  IMHO YMMV

[allbutfoundajob]

Seriously, though, as a pretty old-school Conservative and junior faculty, there are many times that I'm afraid to speak my mind in meetings, etc.  Many of the more vocal senior faculty make it very clear that they do not approve of such things.  Very, very clear.

My conservatism is not just in the closet, but hiding behind everything else that is in the closet at work.  Like in your experience, many of the senior faculty where I am working have also made it very clear that they do not approve of conservatives as people much less conservative political opinions. 

[tolerantly]

It was clear from the quotes provided, however, that what really made the students uncomfortable was being exposed to viewpoints that differed from those they'd grown up hearing.  It turns out the story was authored by a conservative student organization. 

That's nice.  I used to find myself defending kids' conservative views in sociology and women's studies classes.  Not because I agreed with the students -- I didn't, and in fact I agreed with the professors, on the whole -- but because of the arrant intellectual dishonesty and weight-throwing these professors brought to shutting the kids down.  The kids didn't know what to say, but I had 20 years on them, and I did.  It's no secret that some profs view the classroom as a legitimate place for proselytizing, and it's dishonest. 

Open debate is fine.  Fighting dirty against your own students because you disagree with them politically, no.

[canadatourismguy]

It probably doesn't matter, but you sound most like a democrat with (maybe) a libertarian bent.  In American politics, the 'traditional' areas that you mentioned are probably military and infrastructure.  Healthcare and welfare are generally seen as seen as bad by conservatives.  Even it you want to limit spending to some degree, you list the traditional 'liberal' places to spend it.  IMHO YMMV

I think you probably have an interesting argument.

In Canada, I am a right winger...then again the Democrats would be considered right wing in Canada...

In USA, I probably am left wing...and the Canadian Conservative Party would most likely be left wing...

The point I was trying to make was that the definition of right and left are not as rigid as some would like us to believe.  One persons conservative is potentially another's liberal.  What I bring into the class room is what I think is the best of ideas.  I do not really care about ideology because in reality it is so fluid.  I always tell the class that my opinions are just that, opinions and they are welcome to disagree as long as they have good evidence to back up their assertions.

I am for neither left or right , I honestly believe that if we had more political leaders work for the best idea instead of the partisan one I think we would have a much better place to live.

CTG

[bewildered]

I would describe my leanings as fiscally conservative but socially liberal...where does that leave me? 

That's pretty well DNC territory, innit?  Or "Log Cabin Republicans"?