A Few Questions

[hmkpoker]

Well now that I'm done embarrassing myself with that "Opinions of the American Soldier" thread, I figured I have a thing or two to learn, so I have a few questions (which are not at all related):

1) Most college BA requirements (especially those in liberal arts) require some 40-60 credits in the actual field of study, and 60-80 credits in other assorted stuff that employers really don't give a crap about. This seems like an unnecessary burden on the student, who has to pay for two to three times the number of classes he needs to learn his field. Is this a state or federal requirement, or do all colleges just really have it in to milk kids out of their money?

2) Does anyone know the failure rate of new privately-owned businesses (that is, just one owner), vs. partnerships (businesses owned equally by two or more people), over a given period of time? I have a hunch that private businesses are much more successful, since it's more efficient for one person to call the shots than two family members to duke it out over where the pizza oven should go.

3) (to further make an ass of myself) If you consider the American soldier to be heroic, do you also consider the soldiers of "enemy" nations, who make a similar degree of self-sacrifice for a "higher calling," to be heroic as well, or simply misguided and stupid? (Examples like Nazi German soldiers or Iranians under the Ayatollah come to mind)


Responses to any one or more of these questions is welcome, as are any comments, criticisms, hijacks, personal insults, AC flame wars.

[cambraceres]

I eagerly await some dedicated searcher's answers to questions one and two, but will speak to the third myself.

I believe that war brings forth the best efforts, and greatest virtues of men. Not only American men, but men of any nation. Many would say that war is idle bloodshed that moves imaginary lines and effects the guided flow of hollow wealth from despotic state to despotic state. I believe this view is not correct in that it does not give proper status to the things over which we fight.

Now I do see value in the idea that discretion is the better part of valor, and in many cases, soldiers have been betrayed by the imbecility of their own commanders. Maryie's heights comes to mind. A futile struggle against a dominant opponent holds no value for life or property.

However, when one struggles and wins, through tremendous exertions, then he gets the chance to savor the best of life. Lying on a battlefield, tired and exausted, having given everything you have and knowing you put everything on the line and won, is the best of life. War fits this well, for the winners.

Even the losers can be winners, consider Thermopylae, certainly bloody, every single Greek killed, but look what they won. Greece in it's entirety was saved, even though every Greek soldier on the battlefield was killed, and their king besides.

Ideas like "higher cause" and the like are contextual, for the Iranians, or Iraqis or any other islamic state martyrdom is an ideal, a victory all it's own. So yes they fight for their own cause, and their tactics fit their own ideals, that are variable and altogether different from ours. It would be difficult for anyone to say that an army was fighting for nothing, without knowing their minds.

Cambraceres

[pvn]

[ QUOTE ]
1) Most college BA requirements (especially those in liberal arts) require some 40-60 credits in the actual field of study, and 60-80 credits in other assorted stuff that employers really don't give a crap about. This seems like an unnecessary burden on the student, who has to pay for two to three times the number of classes he needs to learn his field. Is this a state or federal requirement, or do all colleges just really have it in to milk kids out of their money?

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want a trade school, there are plenty of options out there already.

[ QUOTE ]
2) Does anyone know the failure rate of new privately-owned businesses (that is, just one owner), vs. partnerships (businesses owned equally by two or more people), over a given period of time? I have a hunch that private businesses are much more successful, since it's more efficient for one person to call the shots than two family members to duke it out over where the pizza oven should go.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I think it's the other way around. Single-person enterprises have a higher failure rate because one man tries to do too much and gets overwhelmed. Additionally, two people generally have more experience, wisdom, and skills than one. I may be misremembering, but there is data on this out there somewhere.

[elwoodblues]

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Most college BA requirements (especially those in liberal arts) require some 40-60 credits in the actual field of study, and 60-80 credits in other assorted stuff that employers really don't give a crap about. This seems like an unnecessary burden on the student,

[/ QUOTE ]

Then don't go to a liberal arts school. I would guess the theory is that High School Seniors who think they know what they want to do after college generally don't. Thus, a well-rounded education better serves their needs.

[madnak]

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I believe that war brings forth the best efforts, and greatest virtues of men.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that war brings out the best in men, but it also brings out the very worst.

[cambraceres]

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I believe that war brings forth the best efforts, and greatest virtues of men.

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I agree that war brings out the best in men, but it also brings out the very worst.

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agreed

[hmkpoker]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
1) Most college BA requirements (especially those in liberal arts) require some 40-60 credits in the actual field of study, and 60-80 credits in other assorted stuff that employers really don't give a crap about. This seems like an unnecessary burden on the student, who has to pay for two to three times the number of classes he needs to learn his field. Is this a state or federal requirement, or do all colleges just really have it in to milk kids out of their money?

[/ QUOTE ]
If you want a trade school, there are plenty of options out there already.

[/ QUOTE ]

Trade schools are well and good, but what if I want a degree in physics, comp sci, business, psychology, or something else without having to put up with 80 credits of nonsense?

[zmacintyre]

[ QUOTE ]
1) Most college BA requirements (especially those in liberal arts) require some 40-60 credits in the actual field of study, and 60-80 credits in other assorted stuff that employers really don't give a crap about. This seems like an unnecessary burden on the student, who has to pay for two to three times the number of classes he needs to learn his field. Is this a state or federal requirement, or do all colleges just really have it in to milk kids out of their money?


[/ QUOTE ]

Because what else are all those birkenstock wearing, tree hugging, jeeta driving liberal professors gonna do for a living ?

[PoBoy321]

[ QUOTE ]

1) Most college BA requirements (especially those in liberal arts) require some 40-60 credits in the actual field of study, and 60-80 credits in other assorted stuff that employers really don't give a crap about. This seems like an unnecessary burden on the student, who has to pay for two to three times the number of classes he needs to learn his field. Is this a state or federal requirement, or do all colleges just really have it in to milk kids out of their money?

[/ QUOTE ]

Because colleges aren't job training and the university system has evolved in such a way that there is a certain level of understanding of a wide range of topics which much be achieved before one can receive a college diploma.

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3) (to further make an ass of myself) If you consider the American soldier to be heroic, do you also consider the soldiers of "enemy" nations, who make a similar degree of self-sacrifice for a "higher calling," to be heroic as well, or simply misguided and stupid? (Examples like Nazi German soldiers or Iranians under the Ayatollah come to mind)

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

[pvn]

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[ QUOTE ]
1) Most college BA requirements (especially those in liberal arts) require some 40-60 credits in the actual field of study, and 60-80 credits in other assorted stuff that employers really don't give a crap about. This seems like an unnecessary burden on the student, who has to pay for two to three times the number of classes he needs to learn his field. Is this a state or federal requirement, or do all colleges just really have it in to milk kids out of their money?

[/ QUOTE ]
If you want a trade school, there are plenty of options out there already.

[/ QUOTE ]

Trade schools are well and good, but what if I want a degree in physics, comp sci, business, psychology, or something else without having to put up with 80 credits of nonsense?

[/ QUOTE ]

Teach yourself, or find a private teacher.

I want to buy a Ford Mustang but without windows or doors, but they'll only sell me the whole car. Sometimes they'll sell me the parts, but I have to put them together myself. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]