Florida Governor Rick Scott is proposing refocusing funding away from liberal arts programs at state universities and colleges, which has various groups accusing Scott of being anti-anthropology, or something like that. Instapundit has the story and lots of reader comments.
Let me suggest that Scott is not going far enough, and should follow the advice I gave Rick Perry in early August, when Perry was accused of waging an “assault” on the Texas state university establishment:
While we await a reevaluation of how educational goals are measured, how about a partial quick fix:
Eliminate political science departments, which produce more esoteric unproductive research than all other departments combined; then forbid anyone from using the term “political scientist” without a license, but never create a department to hand out licenses.
It would be a good start.
I’m not against political scientists. Some of my best friends are political scientists (well, to be more precise, I knew people who were political science majors in college because anthropology was too difficult).
It’s just that taxpayers should not have to subsidize political scientists while they spend years and sometimes decades trying to figure out how to stick it to the taxpayers.
And anyway, it’s in their own best interest. I’m just trying to avoid otherwise intelligent people suffering the humiliation of begging for dead-end jobs from a Soros-funded media tank, or worse, ending up trying to make names for themselves by blogging at The Nation, Mother Jones, Salon.com, or, heaven forbid, The American Prospect.
What was that Shakespeare line about political scientists?
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Comments
I think it is ok to do political science . Just do not go straight from college to working in a political job or be an intern. In short do not be an Antony Weiner who never had any other job & married another ex intern who never did anything else either.
That is a marriage made in hell & even worse they got married by a lifelong politician . Maybe they will call the kid Beezelbub.
I think those 2 must be a warning .
Hey! I have a degree in Poli Sci and I am a CONSERVATIVE. This sounds a lot like bigotry to me! Want to say something about my religion too?
You get a pass WarEagle since you are not pitifully begging for others to pay off your student loans 🙂
Anti-Political Scientist bigotry is spinning out of control in the country, don’t blame the messenger.
And what exactly was YOUR undergrad degree?
Back in my day, every Poli Sci major was heading to law school…
Shakespeare. Hmmm…..
Was it this, perhaps:
“Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me.”
or this:
“God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another.”
or maybe this:
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
Shakespeare was a veritable expert on poli sci. 😉
The political scientist doth protest too much, methinks.
It is a tale, told by a political scientist,
Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Out, out, damn political scientist!
I come to bury political science, not to praise it.
I have a friend who was a political science major. He works in a field completely unrelated to his degree. The irony is that it was his third choice for a major, when he abandoned his first choice because there were no job prospects.
‘Some of my best friends are political scientists…’
Well, I consider you a friend, but BFF? Still working on it!!
I think the problem is greater than which major a student chooses. The problem is that if every last person goes to college a degree becomes meaningless and if the standards get watered down then there is no way to distinguish an achiever. The truth is too many people are going to college and coming out with a the world owes me something attitude. Perhaps when a student signs for their loan, they should be presented with a flashing neon sign that warns them that a college degree does not guarantee a job upon graduation and that they will still be responsible for their loans. Perhaps this understanding will direct some people down more secure and lucrative paths like plumbing. The cost of college would come down, then those who truly have the aptitude for college will be able to afford it again without taking on massive loans.
Funny, It seems that Shakespeare also mentioned that “First, we kill all the Lawyers!”
Say what you will, polysci beats sociology.
I have my BA in the field. And my most meaningful job info comes from my 4 years working as a stagehand and operations staff in my school’s arena.
And I’m a [young] conservative. (I turn 23 this Saturday) And I believe in TANSTAAFL.
I just hope I get into UPS to help pay for loans while I work on getting a foot into the government. (GS-4/5 jobs that AREN’T internships are fracking rare)