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Conservatives Just Aren't Into Academe, Study Finds »

Posted by: Neophile 1 year, 9 months ago

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The Woessners have peered into the psyche of conservative undergraduates to find out why so few of them want to earn Ph.D.'s and become professors.

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Neophile

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Comments: 310

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Goppy
Feb. 24, 2008, 11:38 p.m.
I LOVE this stuff!
Thanks neophile!
Locky12Comment has been removed: Spammer, Abusive
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Radiofreeeuropa
Feb. 25, 2008, 12:01 a.m.
1st it's best to clearly define what liberal really is and what conservative really is: According to Princeton.edu
Liberal-a person who favors a political philosophy of progress and reform, broadmindedness and tolerance, and the protection of civil liberties.
Conservative- one who is opposed to change, adhering to the existing order of institutions and authority.
For a another look at how the conservative brain may be quite different than a liberal thinkers check this article out-
http://shoelessandbibleblack.blogspot.com/2007/...
Also remember that Rove said their worst enemy in the election was those with "too much education". Yeah there is a reason there aren't very many conservative professors, an educated person comes to realize that clinging to old ideas and authorities as a philosophy is not intellectually honest.
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Radiofreeeuropa
Feb. 25, 2008, 12:12 a.m.
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" -Abraham Lincoln
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not2needy
Feb. 25, 2008, 1:16 a.m.
They can't go to graduate school and be available to constantly make excuses for their parties actions. It's all about priorities. LOL
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lovermanComment has been removed: Retracted by user
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jdhatl
Feb. 25, 2008, 2:35 a.m.
This is actually a really interesting article, I hope this leads to more people understanding the value of solid research. That's something not too appreciated at this point in time by the Right in America.
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Mdiar
Feb. 25, 2008, 3:33 a.m.
That's a great article. Something very interesting and now I'm mad at them that I didn't think of that idea first :( Oh well. It is rather interesting to study this. My only problem with studies such as this is that its so difficult to define what "liberal" or "conservative" is. Is conservative to conserve the status quo? To some, unfortunately, yes it is. Is it to be pro-life and anti-gay marriage? To some, yes, unfortunately. Is it to believe that government should only expand to include extra freedoms or privileges? To myself, yes, and I hope that I don't have to change my "liberal conservative" status in the near future as a definition is finally accepted by all! Liberal, actually, is far easier to define then conservatism. It is to be open-minded and tolerant of other ideas, I believe. Or that is my definition of liberal.
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rwrnae
Feb. 25, 2008, 3:56 a.m.
It's real simple girls, there's no money in it. I was recruited for grad school by professors who were making less money than I was making while a student. No thanks!
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1-2-Oscar
Feb. 25, 2008, 7:23 a.m.
The article ignores the obvious--the lack of conservative role models in academia.
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nikkibabe
Feb. 25, 2008, 8:04 a.m.
A true conservative family is someone who lives in the smokey mountains in Tennessee, who only know his house, local streets, school, church & grocery store.
They believe in producing children, don't watch TV news or read newspapers and no precious little about other countries, cultures and customs.
Anyone, who does not look similar or do similar things is a an outsider threatening their way of life.
Now these are the people who want John McCain to be the President after putting Bush in office for 8 years.
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chevydog
Feb. 25, 2008, 8:20 a.m.
Interesting article. When this person attended college, labels were even more meaningless than they are now. But everyone was educated to be conservative, defined as "placing high value on traditional methods and attitudes." This included a balanced budget, strong military (with corresponding reluctance to use it), and equal rights for all. Whether "all" included negroes (as they were then called) or females was barely thought of. The cynicism of government fed by the actions of LBJ and then Nixon was in the future. Given the limited communications by today's standards, people like Rush Limbaugh had no way to be heard.
I suppose that we all could have been called traditionalist pragmatists. Certainly some of the stuff that is dear to present-day "conservatives" was considered on the wacko fringe. All in all, it wasn't totally unlike what GWB would have experienced at Yale.
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engineer
Feb. 25, 2008, 8:28 a.m.
Thanks for the post. Tell all those like locky and Klarissa to go get their medical attention from a person without an MD (doctoral degree) or a lawyer for legal help. Ask them who has come out with modern Technology. Ask them who are the most progressive people. Most are not conservative. I guess the dumber and lesser you are, the more likely you'll be a conservative.
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canadianrancher57
Feb. 25, 2008, 8:36 a.m.
Definition of conservative, liberal, and socialist by my grandfather who lived from 1892-1987.
A conservative is a person who believes in law and order, believes in fairness and honesty when dealing with others, believes that the government is responsible for security of the nation and upholding the laws of the land, believes in aiding the puplic in time of crisis with out setting up a ongoing bureaucracy, and is in charge of taxes and also being responsible to the citizens of the country.
A liberal is a conservative but with a conscience, believes in setting up bureaucracies to provide services which they consider important to society such as social welfare, medicare and senior pensions where needed. Also the government ownership of businesses which are needed by the country but under free enterprise would not be available to all.
Socialist- The same as a liberal but lacking common sense, believes that the government has a part to play in all aspects of a persons life,(continued)
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canadianrancher57
Feb. 25, 2008, 8:39 a.m.
Socialist- believes in ownership of any business and a continued expansion of bureuacracy. Puts the rights of people second to the rights of society.
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sumptuousdigs
Feb. 25, 2008, 9:33 a.m.
It's Boola Boola versus Moola Moola to some. For many the financial state is the all important indicator of success. While fiscal health is desired, an intellect that atrophies for lack of exercise, or a soul that can be bought, is little comfort. I suspect an open mind runs the risk of airing out the conscience. Wanton capitalists would have difficulty with some of their financial alliances under such circumstances.
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Dencal26
Feb. 25, 2008, 10:30 a.m.
On the other hand the Liberal Democrat base is made of the Ethnic Group with the lowest test scores in America. African American SAT scores for Math and Verbal are a dismal 857 average. Liberalism has its extremes from poor uneducated people to elitists with PHDs. Conservatives tend to get through their 4 year degree and get a JOB.
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MonkeyBiz
Feb. 25, 2008, 11:29 a.m.
Democratic base? That's total racist bullshiite. Blacks make up about 12% of the population. They mostly vote dem because the repugs have historically been hostile to their aspirations of freedom.
The poor and uneducated are the ones that support Bush and the evangelical extremists. Because they lack the education in critical thinking skills, they are easily duped by the simplistic and jingoistic hate and fear propaganda of the right wing. They are also easily duped by the outright lies and half truths of the right wing screech media like fux news and rush limpjaw.
BTW - The real elitists in our society are the CEOs that are making tons of money and taxed less by percentage than the average worker, the investors that don't pay taxes on their earnings at all, and of course our entertainment personalities. PHDs, who are you trying to kid?
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Dencal26
Feb. 25, 2008, 10:34 a.m.
Whats most amazing is that most college students consider themselves to be Liberals. Its a very high percentage , I have heard somewhere in the area of 75%. As they graduate , get jobs and families the number drops dramatically. I suppose the ones who remain living in Daddys basement while getting a Doctorates in Geology remain liberal.
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lestparker
Feb. 25, 2008, 11:07 a.m.
I think it was Winston Churchill who said "If you are not a liberal when you are young, you have no heart. If you are not a conservative when you are old, you have no brain." I always thought that was a great analysis.
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prevere
Feb. 25, 2008, 11:10 a.m.
Intellectual freedom and curiosity are liberal attributes as are innovation and originality. Coservatives favor obedience to authority both civil and intellectual and are drawn to those who have a love of power for its own sake. Conservatives are doctrinaire, followers, reactionary, they distrust individual freedoms and feel more comfortable with rigid rules and narrow social limits. William James defined human motivations as the will to power,will to love, will to god and the will to knowledge. Which two are left and which tend to the right? Is there anything conservative about republican fiscal policy?
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DoseASpinoza
Feb. 25, 2008, 12:40 p.m.
Am I the only one who finds it amusing that the researchers are proposing liberal solutions to encouraging conservatives to pursue higher degrees and teaching careers?
FTA:
"The research led the Woessners to conclude that if higher education wants to attract more conservatives to the professoriate, it should smooth the way financially, offering subsidized health insurance and housing for graduate students, and adopting family-friendly policies for professors."
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Mdiar
Feb. 25, 2008, 2:51 p.m.
Interesting. After reading your comments I find it obvious you really aren't a liberal. From what I've read of your comments in the past not only are you intolerant towards those you deem as "conservatives" you are also intolerant towards those who are religious. Really you should stop calling yourself a liberal since part of that definition, agreed upon by most liberals I believe, is to be open-minded of other ideas and tolerant. Of course maybe you don't call yourself a liberal. Hmmm, rather interesting.
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macemare
Feb. 25, 2008, 1:02 p.m.
Lets face it, all xonsefvatives can think about is how much do I get??? I want mine...
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simonsez
Feb. 25, 2008, 1:05 p.m.
You represent liberals well, midleff.
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moxxxxxxxxxx
Feb. 25, 2008, 1:13 p.m.
Education is the process of learning how to think. An intelligent person welcomes opposing points of view it allows you to firm up your own beliefs. Nothing happens in an environment where all people agree.