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

[jogger08152]

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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.

[jogger08152]

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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?

[Nielsio]

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I'm a libertarian

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

[goodsamaritan]

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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:





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.

[jogger08152]

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.

[MyTurn2Raise]

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

[Nielsio]

So you're a utilitarian minarchist?

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

[Nielsio]

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.

[Archon_Wing]

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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]

[bobman0330]

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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.