August 25, 2003

Reading at UNC

Posted by Jenna Ashley Robinson at 9:23 PM

This is a bit off topic, but still an interesting question (I think). Speaking of readings at UNC, can anyone suggest good, free-market, academic journals in political science? This might be a tall order, but the ones I've looked at so far have been on the other end of the political spectrum and I was hoping to find some balance. Looks like the one-sided readings at UNC extend to one-sided writings at most American universities. Who knew?

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Poor, misunderstood Hitler

Posted by George Leef at 2:12 PM

Poor Hitler. He was a radical socialist who had no use whatsoever for the concept of individual rights, and yet modern "liberals" continue to group him with "Right-wing" thinkers. The suggestion that conservatives would be apt to propose Mein Kampf was desirable reading for incoming freshmen at UNC again displays this preposterous notion. Hitler's desire for a tightly controlled society is the polar opposite of the minimal government/maximal freedom philosophy of most conservatives.

I think incoming students ought to read Socialism by Ludwig von Mises. The book demonstrates why socialism must lead to a poor and strife-ridden society. The author, incidentally, had to flee from the Nazis in 1940. Nazi stands for National Socialist.

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Re: My list of UNC readings

Posted by John Hood at 11:33 AM

Actually, assigning Mein Kampf might well have been a better decision for UNC that assigning Barbara Ehrenreich's book, which is unlikely to stand the test of time as an important and influential work. Hitler's ravings are, at least, an indispensable window into the soul of an evil soon-to-be tyrant. I wonder how many incoming freshmen have read it, or , or similar works that should form the basis of a core curriculum in history or political science.

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My list of UNC reading suggestions

Posted by Jon Sanders at 11:10 AM

Charlotte Observer editorial page editor Ed Williams "asked readers on the right to suggest books they'd like to see on the summer reading list." He published their list today along with select comments.

I question the need to publish some of those comments, especially those by one John Grooms, who, though not a conservative himself, suggests for the conservatives Mein Kampf, since their beliefs are full of -- all together, now! -- "racism, sexism, anti-Semitism and homophobia."

I provided my own list back in 2002. If you think this year's controversy is bad, can you imagine what would happen if they took my suggestion to assign Gianna: Aborted ... and Lived to Tell About it, by Jessica Shaver? Have mercy!

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Real cuts

Posted by Jon Sanders at 09:58 AM

The Chronicle of Higher Education Daily News today has this:

Clark Atlanta University plans to fire 75 faculty members as part of an effort to eliminate a $7.5-million budget deficit. ... The universitywide cuts may cost some tenure-track professors their jobs, according to Ms. Jack. Some departments may be eliminated entirely, she said.

Clark Atlanta is a private university in the same Carnegie classification as East Carolina and UNC-Greensboro. This is what cuts look like at a private institution, which can't avail itself of the misericordia appeal to legislators that help sustain public institutions while other public concerns (and, of course, taxpayers) go lacking.

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