I very much appreciate have the discussion that Michael Yates set off.
I am years older than Michael and can easily retire with no financial
penalty. In fact, if I agree to retire, and then teach halftime for
five years, my salary increases for that period.
Two considerations has so far prevented me from taking that route.
First, the department will never give me a guarantee that they will
replace me with somebody that I consider to be progressive. Second, I
enjoy teaching and believes that each year I do some good for handful of
people.
Much of what we teach is worthless, except for the opportunity to help
students discover their own strengths and to develop critical skills.
The extent of bureaucratization is appalling.
Michael's note brings me back to another point. I'm reading, Trust Us,
We're Experts, an excellent book that begins describing the flacks from
the Independent Institute taking money from Microsoft to write economic
analysis. The right wing is so expert at knowing how to hammer away at
a few points over and over and over. W. merely repeats that it's our
money. Eventually, the reactionaries get their way on taxes.
We make an intellectual argument, give data, point out class interests,
and nobody listens. Michael was to work with the Monthly Review. It
has excellent information. You think that we could win the day using
such material -- even though we don't have access to the corporate
media.
Some time ago, I asked the list what we can do to get the word out. If
we could, perhaps universities could put an end to this process of
reverse Darwinianism in which the best are rarely included, and when
they are they leave, discouraged. I appreciate Michael's note, but I
suspect that the future students will pay a price for his departure. I
am certain that his replacement will not be able to fill his shoes.
It's not just Michael Yates, but a fairly common process.
Michael K. described the commercialization of his university. Noam
Chomsky told me that he heard that some other departments at MIT are now
allocating office space on the basis of the profits that faculty members
bring into the school. This commercialization is an important part of
the book that I am finishing an intellectual property.
Sorry for rambling too long.
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Chico, CA 95929
530-898-5321
fax 530-898-5901
