old goriot
Well-known member
I agree posting that article was a waste of time. Mostly because it is a garbage article. and I'm almost 100% certain that it is a dumbed down, sensationalized rip-off of an article that appeared in Harper's last month entitled "Army of Altruists". the author argues that liberals (the professors (the author himself is one) and the political establishment that grew out of the post-war university boom) have closed off a sector of society for themselves through the system of university and internship so that it is now a luxury to be altruistic. You cannot join humanitarian organizations unless you are able to volunteer and support yourself for years at a time as an unpaid intern or student. He argues that the only avenues left to the American poor if they wish to do good in the world is to either join the church or the army.
His basic point comes down to the fact that the poor, lower classes support the Republicans because they represent the Rich while the the Liberals/democrats represent the Social Elite. the poor can conceive of themselves as one day being rich and being accepted into the Republican elite (who dont care how you talk as long as you have money), but they know would NEVER be accepted into true north-eastern liberal culture because they are lower class, do not talk properly, and do not share leisure class values (i.e. the bleeding heart liberalism). The author's point was that not only do the poor hate him and his colleagues but that the poor are completely justified in this hatred of liberals and siding with the rich. It leaves America in a pretty bad situation.
I don't agree with a lot of the Harpers peice, but it is far superior to the garbage that gets posted on counterpunch.org. that website is a joke.
His basic point comes down to the fact that the poor, lower classes support the Republicans because they represent the Rich while the the Liberals/democrats represent the Social Elite. the poor can conceive of themselves as one day being rich and being accepted into the Republican elite (who dont care how you talk as long as you have money), but they know would NEVER be accepted into true north-eastern liberal culture because they are lower class, do not talk properly, and do not share leisure class values (i.e. the bleeding heart liberalism). The author's point was that not only do the poor hate him and his colleagues but that the poor are completely justified in this hatred of liberals and siding with the rich. It leaves America in a pretty bad situation.
I don't agree with a lot of the Harpers peice, but it is far superior to the garbage that gets posted on counterpunch.org. that website is a joke.