Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Fox News vs. NPR (was "MoveOn.org")

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Tue, 6 Jan 2004, Jonathan King wrote:

> On Tue, 6 Jan 2004, Mike Miller wrote:
>
> > Interesting question:  Why does it seem that the intellectual elite of
> > our country (and the *world*, I would say)) is Liberal and not
> > Conservative? Is it because they are smart enough to know better?  Is
> > it because of some kind of self-perpetuating bias in academe?  I think
> > it's a little of both.
>
> I think I would be a bit careful here, Mike.  The data I recall seeing
> (please correct me!) suggest that there is some correlation between the
> amount of education you have had and the likelihood that you will
> endorse statements that could be construed as "liberal", but only in the
> realm of social policy.

I guess.  I was only talking about the way things *seem*.  Watch NPR,
watch Fox News, and tell me what that looks like.  Then compare university
professors to people who are not professors.  There's a strong leftward
'bias' (some might say 'tendency') in the professor group.  I can find an
article on that.


> And some of those attitudes might best be construed as "tolerant" rather
> than "liberal". (E.g., is a willingness to have your son or daughter
> date somebody of a different race or religion really "liberal"?)

Yes, that is liberal, but only one aspect of it.  We can constantly
redefine things so that the conservatives aren't that bad, but actually
the conservatives were the ones who wanted to maintain segregation,
anti-miscegenation laws, and on and on.  Maybe no one is like that now,
but they were dragged into it kicking and screaming.  Opposition to
affirmative action is the last stronghold of the old racism.

If you are young, you might not believe me, but if you've been around for
40+ years it would be obvious to you.


> But about defense and economics and other issues, there's a much weaker
> relationship.  Or, to put it another way, the titans on Wall Street have
> never been considered "left-leaning", but only a tiny percentage of them
> would favor a policy like teaching creationism in public schools.

It is useful to distinguish between fiscal and social conservatism.  I'm
sure the difference is bigger for social conservatism, but the two are
correlated (how should social policy affect fiscal policy?).

Mike
_______________________________________________
discussion mailing list
EMAIL:PROTECTED
http://mlug.missouri.edu/mailman/listinfo/discussion