Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

I know this isn't particularly new, and that Universities have been a hotbed of socialism and communism for years, but it seems to me like its worse than ever. Seriously, is it the "cool" thing to pretend that you are extremely well informed and knowledgable about the world due to extensive watching of the Daily Show? Ooo, capitalism=bad, government=good. No one even has common sense. I try to explain that if you are paying 30% taxes to the government that you are basically a slave for 1/3 of the year and they look at me like I am crazy.

This rant was sparked by seeing this girl I used to [censored] who I no longer talk to but am still facebook friends with just joined this group: http://umd.facebook.com/group.php?gi...981&ref=nf I mean what the hell, obviously all Libertarians are evil heartless bastards who want all the homeless to starve etc. How is it not obvious that more government = bad? If these retards have more of their money thanks to less taxes they can give the homeless and poor all of that extra money if they want, do more "good" than the government would with taxes and still wind up with the same or more money. I can't even destroy their ignorant liberal attitudes beacuse they don't have a wall or forum arrrgh.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

What characteristics are associated with college students? 1st is wealth. They are far removed from experiencing real social issues/problems. What else can they do but ponder philosophy soloutions. They aren't pragmatist. Also, most are white and feel some guilt (whether aware of it or not).
You won't see many black americans people volunteering for Darfur and [censored] like that.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

White Guilt

Feeling of Superiority

Overly Emotional

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

I know it's not too popular around here but I seem to remember a stephan molyeneux podcast about culture being anti capitalist movies, tv, music etc because in the capitalist environment most artists fail for most of their lives, due to purely market reasons (there is a vastly bigger supply of people wanting to be rockstars film stars etc than there is a demand for them)

So if 'creative' people spend their whole lives getting screwed by the market as they see it then they are naturally going to be anti market in the output they produce which then permeates the culture especially amongst the young. I think it's a pretty interesting idea.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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What else can they do but ponder philosophy soloutions.

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This probably has a lot to do with it (also why a lot are anarchist.)

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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I've never met a poor libertarian. Have you?


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I'm a libertarian and a poor university student. I live off very little money a month. Thank god we have some sort of free market capitalism, because other than no car I lead a pretty good life. Compared to the majority of the world I'm living the life of extreme luxury. I wanted to post in that group but I joined and couldnt post anything. I guess you wont meet any poor libertarians if you dont listen to what they are saying.

As for universities there are probably many factors. I think one of them is that much of the study that goes on in the social sciences is book study. So you get a very superficial understanding of economics if you arent in the econ department (and even then you still learn a lot of nonsense). But I think the majority of people at university are interested in intellectual persuits, so they actually have opinions on these topics. I think the majority of people just dont care. But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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As for universities there are probably many factors. I think one of them is that much of the study that goes on in the social sciences is book study. So you get a very superficial understanding of economics if you arent in the econ department (and even then you still learn a lot of nonsense). But I think the majority of people at university are interested in intellectual persuits, so they actually have opinions on these topics. I think the majority of people just dont care. But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

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Good reasoning. I also think that somehow "liberal" is now identified as pro-gay marriage, pro abortion, etc, basically social issues. And since most college students seem to be "progressive" in views towards gay marriage and these other issues, they somehow identify as liberals even though they don't really know what being a liberal/socialist means other than "capitalism bad, gay marriage and everyone being 'equal' good." Nevermind that "equal" would mean "equally [censored]."

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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So if 'creative' people spend their whole lives getting screwed by the market as they see it then they are naturally going to be anti market in the output they produce which then permeates the culture especially amongst the young. I think it's a pretty interesting idea.


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I get this impression from artists a lot in my local community. There is often articles in the newspaper about how we have to support our local arts because everyone benefits from the local culture. These people dont understand that if they cant compete on the market its cause nobody is interested in their 'art'. Our local symphony got bailed out because it couldnt make a profit. Am I going to benefit? I'm going to show up at their concerts just as often as before, aka never.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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As for universities there are probably many factors. I think one of them is that much of the study that goes on in the social sciences is book study. So you get a very superficial understanding of economics if you arent in the econ department (and even then you still learn a lot of nonsense). But I think the majority of people at university are interested in intellectual persuits, so they actually have opinions on these topics. I think the majority of people just dont care. But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

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Good reasoning. I also think that somehow "liberal" is now identified as pro-gay marriage, pro abortion, etc, basically social issues. And since most college students seem to be "progressive" in views towards gay marriage and these other issues, they somehow identify as liberals even though they don't really know what being a liberal/socialist means other than "capitalism bad, gay marriage and everyone being 'equal' good." Nevermind that "equal" would mean "equally [censored]."

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I think your response is closest to the answer. We're given two real choices: either be social conservative/market libral (Repub.) or be a social liberal/market conservative (Dem). Those are the only two ideological platforms mentioned on a day to day basis. After that, the drop off in exposure to Libertarians and even further to AC is huge, so most people just grow up picking one of those two camps. There are a ton of College Republicans too.

Cody

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Our local symphony got bailed out because it couldnt make a profit. Am I going to benefit? I'm going to show up at their concerts just as often as before, aka never.

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Rich people being subsidized by poor people. Kudos, rich people!

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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This rant was sparked by seeing this girl I used to [censored] who I no longer talk to but am still facebook friends with just joined this group: http://umd.facebook.com/group.php?gi...981&ref=nf I mean what the hell, obviously all Libertarians are evil heartless bastards who want all the homeless to starve etc. How is it not obvious that more government = bad? If these retards have more of their money thanks to less taxes they can give the homeless and poor all of that extra money if they want, do more "good" than the government would with taxes and still wind up with the same or more money. I can't even destroy their ignorant liberal attitudes beacuse they don't have a wall or forum arrrgh.

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I think part of the reason libertarians get this reputation as cold and heartless is because we sometimes have a bad tendency to justify the status quo, existing inequalities and structures, etc. as if they were produced by free markets (eg, the knee-jerk dismissive reaction to leftists complaining about vast economic inequality; we often defend such unequal outcomes, since we oppose govt redistribution, when we might instead attack such outcomes as a product of government intervention).

Anyways, I think this is part of the problem with the libertarian image (and I think it is partly justified); that said, it isn't the whole problem. Many college leftists don't know much economics and haven't taken the time to really understand where libertarians are coming from (no thanks here to the average university faculty).

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

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Huh?

a) How are university students "at the center of government spending?" Higher education subsidies are a minuscule portion of government spending.
b) Lol if you think factory workers are getting laid off because of what college professors make (and the vast majority of them make less than 150K).

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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I'm a libertarian and a poor university student.

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Being a "poor university student" is decently incongruent, especially when you consider the the planet as a whole.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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But these budding intellectuals get exposed to socialist ideas for the first time and when you are in the center of government spending its hard to see how socialism isnt a good thing. Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

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Huh?

a) How are university students "at the center of government spending?" Higher education subsidies are a minuscule portion of government spending.


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Do state schools get funding from the feds or only that state? I am clueless about that.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

Wow, I have so much to say about this topic. First off...

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What else can they do but ponder philosophy soloutions.

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This probably has a lot to do with it (also why a lot are anarchist.)

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A lot of college students are anarchists? Hahahah, is this a joke? It's less than 10% AT BEST. I know you're just trying to rib the younger ACists on this forum (like me, Shake, BCPVP), but at least pick a spot where it actually makes sense to do so.

Furthermore, it's that they don't think ENOUGH about philosophical questions that so many of them drift into the liberal/socialist camp. They don't care to think much about the morality or consequences of their views/political actions on other people, they just see "equality for all" as some kind of utopian pipe dream.

In my experience (and I went to one of the most liberal universities in the country), there is a huge impact coming from the faculty! I'm actually surprised no one has mentioned this but I guess it was just so palpable at my school. So many of my professors openly expressed and praised world views of "socialism=good, capitalism=bad" as if they were written fact. It was truly sickening and since a lot of college students don't give politics a second thought in high school, this was new and exciting and made sense...and most importantly, it was the only view they were being subjected to. Makes for a pretty smooth transition.

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I'm a libertarian and a poor university student.

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Being a "poor university student" is decently incongruent, especially when you consider the the planet as a whole.

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This argument doesn't work though, because I believe the original point was about a facebook group where college kids (mainly liberals) post in a college group about libertarians being greedy and rich. If most US college kids are rich compared to the rest of this world, then libertarians can just as easy play the "I only know rich college liberals" card. Let me tell you how many radical socialists at my school would bash capitalism to no ends, but could consistently be seen in the halls eating a Big Mac while listening to their iPod. Why aren't you in the peace corps spreading equality? GREEDY BASTARD!

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

Ralph Raico on the role of intellectuals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X6NprQKAMo

What do you think, Nonfiction?

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

Oh, and a story from my last year at college. This is mainly for the college libertarians/ACists on this board...

I was in this film course, it was only 1 credit but was really easy, we just went to watch a film in this local film festival 6 times during the semester. You fill out a survey and that's it. The theme for this particular one was Spanish/Latin American films. Usually a speaker would come who was in someway involved with the filmmaking process.

Well, one week, we had to watch a series of short videos about spreading equality around the world. How capitalism was destroying third world countries and how the answer was more government and more socialism. They were essentially documentaries that take to the streets, etc. So the films end and after an hour and a half of squirming in my chair, the speakers begin to talk about how they helped to create these films and, best of all, how they distribute them!

"We often travel all over the place, and meet up with other groups. We will sell our videos to them or if they are low on cash, we will exchange them for other videos."

I turned to my friend and whispered, "Otherwise known as capitalism." We had a good laugh.


This kind of thing just truly angered me all through college because so many people would just assert that capitalism was a bad thing that destroyed lives when nearly 100% of them benefitted from it and saw an improvement in their daily lives because of it.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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A lot of college students are anarchists? Hahahah, is this a joke? It's less than 10% AT BEST. I know you're just trying to rib the younger ACists on this forum (like me, Shake, BCPVP), but at least pick a spot where it actually makes sense to do so.

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-1 (Illogical)
What proportion of the general population are anarchists? Less than 1% AT BEST. If you're going to rail against liberalism being overrepresented on college campuses you can't pull a victim complex when someone raises the fact that your extreme views might also be overrepresented there.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

Liberalism is easy. You simply need to care about the problem, locate the liberal solution and advocate. In fact, if you mistakenly stop and think about many knee-jerk liberal answers to problems you'll find yourself hopelessly confused.

Here's a good example. Gas prices are too high. Let's put price controls on it! Problem solved. Don't you feel better? I sure do. Now let's go after the windfall profits too!

1/2 part intellectually lazy + 1/4 part idealist + 1/4 part self-loathing white = liberal. Most every time.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

Which one do you like best?

1) College life is more diverse and open than what most people experience, and it works OK. Students are therefore less attracted by reactionary thoughts (gays, Mexicans, socialists, etc), the bread-and-butter of conservatives.

2) Whether you study chemistry or economics, the basic assumption is that if you do X, Y will happen (possibly with a certain probability, etc). Students have consequently a higher trust in active policies (vs. letting things evolve on their own).

3) Many students are somewhat beneficiaries of social policies. If they are not happy, chances are that they want more grants, public funding, etc. They don’t want to spit in the soup.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

Isn't this one pretty obvious?

If you are not deeply religious and don't have children, what attraction does social conservatism have?

If you don't have much in the way of financial assets, responsibilities, or income, what attraction does economic conservatism have?

Unless you are indoctrinated into a particular tradition as a child, I don't understand why any college student would be a conservative.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Isn't this one pretty obvious?

If you are not deeply religious and don't have children, what attraction does social conservatism have?

If you don't have much in the way of financial assets, responsibilities, or income, what attraction does economic conservatism have?

Unless you are indoctrinated into a particular tradition as a child, I don't understand why any college student would be a conservative.

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Well, I think the problem from the OP's perspective isn't "why are college students leftists instead of conservatives" but rather "why are college students big-state liberals/state socialists instead of anarchists, libertarians, etc".

Personally, as both a "far-left liberal" and a libertarian anarchist, I'm glad that college students aren't conservatives--but I do find it distressing that most college students see big-state liberalism as the only alternative to religious conservatism.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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I know this isn't particularly new, and that Universities have been a hotbed of socialism and communism for years, but it seems to me like its worse than ever. Seriously, is it the "cool" thing to pretend that you are extremely well informed and knowledgeable about the world due to extensive watching of the Daily Show? Ooo, capitalism=bad, government=good. No one even has common sense. I try to explain that if you are paying 30% taxes to the government that you are basically a slave for 1/3 of the year and they look at me like I am crazy.

This rant was sparked by seeing this girl I used to [censored] who I no longer talk to but am still facebook friends with just joined this group: http://umd.facebook.com/group.php?gi...981&ref=nf I mean what the hell, obviously all Libertarians are evil heartless bastards who want all the homeless to starve etc. How is it not obvious that more government = bad? If these retards have more of their money thanks to less taxes they can give the homeless and poor all of that extra money if they want, do more "good" than the government would with taxes and still wind up with the same or more money. I can't even destroy their ignorant liberal attitudes beacuse they don't have a wall or forum arrrgh.

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I dunno, maybe if you actually listened to what they had to say before reacting so strongly you might understand why. Not that you would necessarily agree with them, but you might see why they think like they do. I guess it's just easier for you to convince yourself everyone with a differing point of view is ignorant... despite their higher than average level of education, no less... I'm hardly a socialist, but I'm certainly on the left of the spectrum. However, I do feel that the conservative and libertarian camps have valuable insights to offer. It's all just different sides of the same coin.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Being a "poor university student" is decently incongruent, especially when you consider the the planet as a whole.


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exactly my point. I'm not poor, but people have a messed up idea of what true poverty is.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Isn't this one pretty obvious?

If you are not deeply religious and don't have children, what attraction does social conservatism have?

If you don't have much in the way of financial assets, responsibilities, or income, what attraction does economic conservatism have?

Unless you are indoctrinated into a particular tradition as a child, I don't understand why any college student would be a conservative.

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Well, I think the problem from the OP's perspective isn't "why are college students leftists instead of conservatives" but rather "why are college students big-state liberals/state socialists instead of anarchists, libertarians, etc".


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The big reason that few college students are libertarians/anarchists is that very few people in general are libertarians/anarchists. In fact, I am certain that the percentage of libertarians/anarchists is much higher among college students than it is among the larger population.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

If your 20 and conservative you have no heart.

If your 40 and liberal you have no brain.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Huh?

a) How are university students "at the center of government spending?" Higher education subsidies are a minuscule portion of government spending.
b) Lol if you think factory workers are getting laid off because of what college professors make (and the vast majority of them make less than 150K).



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I dont think that its the students that neccessarily make the connection. but the question is why are a lot of professors socialist. I would argue that they are biased because they are at the center of government spending and see the positive results on a daily basis. This biases professors and gets passed onto their students. I'm Canadian so things might be different in private universities in America.

You seriously dont think taxation harms the manufacturing and retail sectors of the economy?

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

I think one key element here that hasn't been touched on yet is that university students are "educated" by university professors. Most university professors become academics because they don't like the business world. It shouldn't be surprising that they pass on anti-corporate and anti-capitalism messages to their students.

Consider the market price that the median professor could get for his/her research. Now consider the median professor's attitude toward capital markets. Coincidence?

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Isn't this one pretty obvious?

If you are not deeply religious and don't have children, what attraction does social conservatism have?

If you don't have much in the way of financial assets, responsibilities, or income, what attraction does economic conservatism have?

Unless you are indoctrinated into a particular tradition as a child, I don't understand why any college student would be a conservative.

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Politics is never discussed at my house, and my son's only exposure to politics was school courses. The vast majority of his friends were/are liberal, despite coming from conservative, high middle income families. Somehow he managed to see far enough ahead that transfer payments will screw him if he's successful. If he can get there Im sure many others ca as well.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Ralph Raico on the role of intellectuals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X6NprQKAMo

What do you think, Nonfiction?

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I know I sure loved the new agey music they played in the background while he talked about commodities.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Its hard to understand that the reason your local factory workers are getting laid off is because your prof is making 150K/yr.

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I'm a libertarian and I find it hard to understand this too. Please explain.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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This kind of thing just truly angered me all through college because so many people would just assert that capitalism was a bad thing that destroyed lives when nearly 100% of them benefitted from it and saw an improvement in their daily lives because of it.

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I understand (and share) your annoyance, of course, but how can you be angry at those folks but not at the ACists who decry mixed markets on this very board while simultaneously attending (or teaching at) publically funded universities?

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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I'm a libertarian

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Can you expand on that? How do you understand the term?

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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I dont think that its the students that neccessarily make the connection. but the question is why are a lot of professors socialist.

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Title of thread: "Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?"

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I would argue that they are biased because they are at the center of government spending and see the positive results on a daily basis. This biases professors and gets passed onto their students.

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Again, please explain how they are at the center of government spending:

http://mwhodges.home.att.net/95budget.gif

http://www.federalbudget.com/chart.gif

Education spending is clearly not at the "center" of government spending. Of course state governments spend money on education as well, but state government spending is dwarfed by federal government spending. The "center" of government spending is the military and entitlements (social security, medicare, medicaid, etc.), not education.

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You seriously dont think taxation harms the manufacturing and retail sectors of the economy?

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Its certainly not a good thing. But only a tiny percentage of taxation is going towards education spending. The main reason US workers get laid off is because wages are lower in other countries. Taxes don't help, but education spending or "professors making 150K" are not responsible for workers getting laid off.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

This is a reasonable summary of my politics:

"Consequentialist libertarians do not have a moral prohibition against "initiation of force," but believe that allowing a very large scope of political and economic liberty results in the maximum well-being or efficiency for a society - even if protecting this liberty involves some initiation of force by government. However, such governmental actions are limited in the free society consequentialists envision."

(From paragraph two, here.)

(I wonder if the ACists on here would object to von M's inclusion on the above list on wiki...)

In general I favor small government, and where it needs to intervene more extensively, I prefer it does so over the smallest geographical area possible.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

mandatory public education system that has its roots in late 19th century nationalism (racism) and progressive movement

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

So you're a utilitarian minarchist?

How minarchisty are you? Education? Health? Post office?

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

http://www.federalbudget.com/chart.gif


What I find noticeable:

- Defense spending is retarded and has nothing to do with defending. OR: lolz empire

- The money involved in healthcare. Clearly there is a huge amount of non-free market and tons of regulation in this sector. Michael Moore should probably look into the cause effect of that together with the state of healthcare today.

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Let me tell you how many radical socialists at my school would bash capitalism to no ends, but could consistently be seen in the halls eating a Big Mac while listening to their iPod. Why aren't you in the peace corps spreading equality? GREEDY BASTARD!

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lol... Nobody could answer me on that. Also, people can't understand how I can support gay rights and capitalism at the same time. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Re: Why are so many college students far-left liberals or socialists?
 

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Again, please explain how they are at the center of government spending:

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I don't think that's an accurate claim, but the statistics you cite don't reflect the enormous tax benefits they receive.