signalnoise

Hmm...as I reread your journal entry I have a bit of difficulty pulling out the central question. It's about perception of the discipline, right? Or is it about politics in the college classroom? I'll assume both.

Firstly, your take on what political scientists do seems right on to me. Have you ever read Lowi's "The State in Political Science," from the APSR, '92? He talks a lot about the two periods you mention: the normative age (when Wilson was around) and the early behavioral days (like you, he reveres the latter).

Well, imagine my chagrin qua political theorist when I get those same questions: about current elections, about whether I aspire to office, etc. When I start trying to explain that, well, it all begins with Homer and the tragedians, it's not long before I've lost my interlocutor. (As an aside: your comment about if one wants to do Hegel or Nietzsche, he ends up in poli sci is dead on.)

So, in sum, as a theorist, I consider myself part of the humanities. Which, as I say above, makes those questions even more absurd. I just say it's a mix of philosophy and literature, and that seems to shut people up. For me it's not about social science but the history of ideas, period. Specifically my interest has always been morality--can we say anything about it? What about now, after the 20th century has seemingly left us with no solid ground to stand on?

As far as politics in the classroom, please tell someone whom does Women's Studies, African American Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Criminal Justice, etc., that politics should only be reserved for poli sci.

Furthermore, do we even care about citizenship anymore in the academy, or is it all about getting a certificate to the end of getting a better job (this reminds me of the line by DuBois, "...and finally, instead of truth, beauty, goodness, wealth as the ideal of the public school")? If we are educating citizens, then even physics should be political. There are social implications of our work.

Finally, this might be semantically underhanded, but what about this idea of objectivity? Does that itself represent a bias? The idea being that objective knowledge is somehow possible; a belief that the normative, the moral, can be suspended in the pursuit of truth? I don't mean to imply that we can't say anything about the world; that is defeatist and stupid. But I do want to suggest that our is an age--as you say, the positivist one. And that, I think, is a structurally induced thing.

I have a footnote type quibble with your freedom of speech defense, and it's a bit different from our email discussion. There have been cases where students have been at least reprimanded for espousing particular views in classrooms. I can find the example if you need it. Right or wrong, it does happen.

cornink turned that Firestorm tattoo out in like 20 minutes. He's good and quick!

I'm also wondering where the John Turturro bowling ball licking character fits ....

FucktardBoy abides.

You think too much, boy.

By all means and re: NCLB, I know you're not a barbarian. I guess I just saw the opposite of what you saw: little Democrat opposition. I remember Howard Dean criticizing it; it seemed less to do with the program itself and more to do with its underfunded-ness.

That's absolutely correct and absolutely not paranoid. The administration has done a very great job at not just attacking the welfare state, but in waging a war on the psychological level. Cheney looked us right in the face when the last budget was proposed, saying that domestic programs wouldn't be cut. The cuts were large by historical comparison, and the only part of the bureaucracy to receive an increase was DHS. Or something close to that. (Maybe it was the state dept. that recieved an increase; I can't remember.)

The war on welfare has obviously been going on since Reagan invented the idea of "welfare queens"; but this, this is unbelievable. My theory is that "Ownership Society" has nothing to do with citizens excercising financial autonomy; it has to do with the rule of the corporation, or ownership: the drug companies, defense contractors, oil companies, and the like. A dark time for our republic; Hamilton smiles.

I would go to the concert. Graduate students don't have enough fun, as far as I can tell!

Yeah, I knew you would like that! If you ever find a copy of that book, he's written a bunch of really interesting opinions about humankind's treatment of the land. Good stuff.

That is an awesome lineup for a show in Grant Park! Good luck with that one, I don't know that I'd be willing to spend the money not knowing if it is a sure thing. But then again, the price will no doubt go up if it is a go...

I haven't followed the Bolton case, so I'm going to have to leave that one alone.

NCLB, however, I am repulsed by. You admire its accountability aspect, and I'm obviously fine with that. But that seems like a very minor plus that is outweighed by heavy minuses.

As far as I know, teachers are devoting a tremendous amount of resources (i.e., time, in the main) to preparation, which means that the exams better be fucking perfect--that's what the kids are studying for!

The program is geared towards math and science. This is problematic to an insane degree as it does not account for the simple psychological fact/common knowledge that many people have creative/artistic temperments. Does this mean they should not even try math and science? No, but they should have other aspects of their education (i.e., well-funded aspects) in which they can flourish: the arts, music, creative writing, etc.

Isn't the penalty for performance a restriction on funds? This assumes a rational, incentive-based behavioral frame, which I just do not buy into at all. The schools that are performing badly need the most help, not cutbacks. I don't think they'll simply "wise-up" and get their asses in gear because of the impending penalties. School that is performing badly: "Now you get less money, which means less teachers. Good luck on the exams next year!"

I think the underfunding of NCLB is part of the assault on the 20th century state and a strategy of class warfare. If public schools start hemorrhaging money and hence the quality of public education degrades, that certainly will make wonderful conditions for vouchers, won't it?

[Edited on Apr 23, 2005 12:01PM]

Oh yeah, no, I don't think you got a drunken post. Trust me though, it probably won't be long now.

Re: the boy being accountable for the man, it's a toughie. I'll explain my position. I don't like character assasination. But this man is the Pope. The position has a significance that is beyond words. He should have come from a developing country in this particular case, and his record should be as clean as possible in general. This isn't the best argument in the world, and maybe it's just based on emotion.

And yes, the contraception position is myopic beyond belief. I'm assuming that the argument is something about wasting seed! Unbelievable. What an antiquated notion. People are fucking dying.

Let me play on some of your final words: you said that the Church as it exists "is better than nothing." Nothing, indeed. I offer the final sentence from The Genealogy of Morals: "Let me repeat, now that I have reached the end, what I said at the beginning: man would sooner have the void for his purpose than be void of purpose..."

Let me say two more things about Popey.

1. He opposes Turkey's admission to the EU. What a mistake! It's a golden opportunity to build a strong bridge between the West and Islam. And it would be a slap in the face to those reactionary forces whom believe the two cannot speak to one another.

2. He has an email address. That's just hilarious.

Thanks man. I hope it ends soon too, but not for my sake, but for the sake of my loved one that it's affecting.

I got your email and will be responding to it. Things are going ok. I think I have some job prospects.

Exactly! Amen to that.

I just can't wait to get out of this crazy town.

uh...hmm.

Hey man, congratulations on the piece! That's absolutely wonderful news. As you know, I didn't get far, but I've seen so many people jump the hurdles; I know how much it means.

I haven't read One Dimensional... since undergrad. It's interesting though, what you wrote in my journal. It sounds very anti-Hegelian, and the most recent Marcuse I read was Reason and Revolution, which, while not an unabashed endorsement of Hegel, is, I think, sympathetic.

Re: public and private liberty, yes, it is a great topic. I really like the questions that Arendt opens in this domain. Obviously there are problems, e.g., the current culture of human rights cannot just sit around and ignore domestic violence for the sake of the sanctity of private life, but there definitely is something to be said in terms public opinion concerning itself with inconsequential and trivial affairs of others. I think Stendahl's The Red and the Black and Von Trier's Dogville are great on this topic.

Glad to hear things are going well for your wife.

Congrats on the essay And I would make fun of you because 2 of your top 3 are females, but honestly, I'm shocked that all 3 of my top 3 weren't

Soooo...you surf SG while working on a paper?

Good pics!

your wife is so damned pretty!

I couldn't help but giggle when you said that was a mess. here are a couple of shots of my work desk. HAHA!

I totally am a fan of auteurs. Espectially very stylistic ones. RR, QT, George Romero, David Fincher, Kevin Smith, Spike Lee etc all top my favorite director list because they make the films they want to make, and let studios deal with the fallout of making it "popular"

(p.s. in my mind, before the Kill Bills, QT's best flick was Jackie Brown )

Oh don't get me wrong, I can totally appreciate a solid storyteller. A well told tale, is a well told tale. And sometimes, the less "artistic trappings" around it, the better. But the majority of my faves are auteurs.

So what did you think of Sin City? I've been debating it.

I have been looking for jobs to apply for in the city, but my skills have pidgeon-holed me as far as what I can apply for. I am looking for a mid-level museum or gallery job working with collections or art work. But, I'll be looking for a part time job once I get up there to make ends meet until I can find full time employment.

I can't even express how happy I am at getting out of here! I am a little nervous, but that's understandable because this is a big change.

I suppose I can lose time by trying, but I'm not worried. I figure I'll just get more handsome with age.

Man, we're like practically neighbors (I'm near Hyde Park and Dorchester). It's probably the Kenwood kids out on their lunch breaks. Best to be careful.