OT America hits peak anti-intellectualism: Majority of Republicans now think college is bad

Why do you hate America and Slurpees?

 

I love Slurpees

 

Trump did say he loves the uneducated and for good reason they got him elected.

 

If they've done the research and determined that the offerings at Evergreen are the best options for them, I'm going to support their choice.

And I never said that most colleges are net negatives. What I'm saying is that colleges that only encourage one side of the ideological spectrum are less beneficial than those that encourage open discussion and debate from all voices. Intellectual enrichment is still valuable, even when accompanied with overwhelming socio-political bias.

 

Who's on the 2th floor? Orthodontists?

 

On a serious note I'll say this. Education is not merely the things we learn in school. Or about degrees or diplomas. Its really about the things we learn on a daily basis, keeping our minds open and aware.

 

What about the 1th?

 

I didn't have a good pun for that. All yours.

 

Macys

 

Ok, fair enough. I thought you were weighing in on the side of "Republicans think that colleges and universities have a negative impact on the country."

barfo

 

1th upon a time, there was a brave and handthome printh...

barfo

 

I agree. The argument, the discussion is where one really learns and stretches the mind.

 

I abhor the ultra-liberal pontification that is prevalent on most college campuses, but I personally don't think it outweighs the value of the education one can receive even in that kind of environment. But since the question (I went back and re-read the OP) was about whether or not people think colleges "have a negative effect on the way things are going in this country", if one believes that rampant liberalism and political correctness are having a negative impact on the country, it's certainly difficult to answer no to that question as phrased. My point from the beginning in this thread has simply been that having that belief isn't inherently anti-intellectual, and doesn't necessarily reflect a disdain for higher education, as the thread title suggests.

 

I understand your main point and agree with it - it isn't necessarily anti-intellectual to think colleges are having a negative effect. For instance, if they were colluding with the Russians to undermine our democracy, that would mean they were having a negative effect. One could still support education and oppose that.

However, I think one has to interpret the question as asking whether colleges have a NET negative effect, not simply at least one identifiable negative effect. After all, the alternative is 'positive effect on the country', not 'no negative effects on the country'. Colleges use up land that could be used for other purposes? Negative effect on the country!

Of course some people do think that 'rampant liberalism' is a negative that outweighs all positives that a college might have. But if you aren't in that camp, I don't think a 'negative' answer makes sense.

barfo

 

We'll just have to agree to disagree on that point. I think there is pretty obvious ambiguity of interpretation of the question, and honestly I think it is likely intentional.