Michael,
You should ramble more! I guess we have to plug away with what
resources we have. Socialism may be a long way of, and yes, in the long
run we are all dead. But capitalism is so very evil, so anti-human, so
completely destructive, that the struggle against is worth it on its own
terms, even if we never win. I have a feeling that my teaching days are
not over, just the ones inside the ivory tower.
Michael Yates
Michael Perelman wrote:
>
> 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
