From Where I sit » Why “smart” people are often liberals

Why “smart” people are often liberals

October 15th, 2008

I’m never surprised when “smart” people (which usually means folks in academia) are liberals.

There are plenty of good reasons for this:

Self interest: Most folks like these scientists are employed by universities. All universities are directly or indirectly subsidized by governments. Usually, cialis sale shop what’s good for government is good for the universities and liberalism is good for governments.
A disconnection from harsh realities: There is a reason academia is often referred to as the ivory tower. The practice of tenure, mind and the high salaries paid to most academics persuade them that the world is a kinder, gentler place than it really is. In other words, they can afford to be liberals because the world they live in is somewhat isolated from “real” world pressures. I always thought that Ray put it best in Ghostbusters, “Personally, I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities, we didn’t have to produce anything! You’ve never been out of college! You don’t know what it’s like out there! I’ve *worked* in the private sector. They expect *results*. “
Socrates. Academics love Socrates concept of the philosopher-kings. The smartest people should rule for the good of all. Of course, this overlooks the desire of people like me not to be “ruled” at all.

Entry Filed under: Politics

1. Debunked | October 15th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

The biggest problem with your reasoning is your leap from academia to the corporate world.

Businesses expect results. But where do you think those results come from? It comes from those very researchers who go on to win those Nobel Laureates. The very reason people win these awards is their findings advance our understanding of the world. That directly impacts the business world which uses those findings to create products.

You can’t assume that they’re separate spheres. We wouldn’t have any of the 20th/21st century technologies that have made business so much money without those people in the first place.

Indeed, it’s those people who are really doing the producing in the first place. Business actually does nothing more than copies the work produced by the intelligentsia in the first place.
2. James | October 15th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

“Of course, this overlooks the desire of people like me not to be “ruled” at all.”

I hate to be the glass-half empty guy here, but your desire to not be ruled is irrelevant to liberals. You’re the lowly peasant and exist to serve the elite royalty like those in academia and government. It really resembles the feudal system from the Middle Ages.

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