I understand the satisfaction derived from mocking illiterate, unqualified individuals who have been elevated by a president who is illiterate and unqualified. But let's not be distracted; there is a bit more at stake than the ability to make cogent arguments or to spell and punctuate correctly.
This is part of an assault on institutions and intellect. Don't deride it merely because the letter would not pass a decent spell-check or an eighth-grade grammarian's eye. Condemn the letter for its intent.
The letter mentions Harvard’s $53.2 billion endowment, larger than the GDP of 100 countries, presumably to generate populist resentment against those wealthy elites. It was written, or at least signed, by the lady wrestler Trump put in charge of dismantling the Dept. of Education. She’s worth $3.2 billion, and the oligarchs in the Trump administration have a cumulative wealth of $428.3 billion, higher than the GDP of 174 countries.
What Trump really doesn’t like about Harvard and other universities is that they don’t embrace MAGA’s white nationalist world view. They’re too diverse and inclusive.
In reshaping the workforce this is also an attempt to throw academics into the general job market, as they’ve done and continue to do with federal employees. Suppressing wages for professional level positions because of the numbers of qualified applicants? I’m becoming familiar with this argument, true or no, in any case
I have fantasized during the unfolding story of the Federal Government versus Harvard and other schools that the schools just walk away. They refuse federal funding and do not participate in research sponsored by the Federal Government. I realize that this will never happen because of economics and the aspirations of scientist and would be scientists. What would the government do then? Would it be like the dog that caught the car? Maybe schools will become more discriminating and not rush into deals when the Feds wave dollars or appeal to the school's patriotic duty, It is a fantasy but it still fun to speculate.
Harvard has been guilty of anti-semitism. In the 1920s, Harvard President Lawrence was concerned that Jewish enrollment had blossomed from six to 22 percent. He imposed a Jewish Quota which stood for several decades. Harvard has been guilty of elitism. My favorite example is the secretary answering the phone in 1910: “The President (Harvard President Eliot) is in Washington visiting Mr. Taft.” But if you want to see the Harvard I knew, look at a few episodes of “The Closer You Look.” (https://www.thecloseryoulook.com/)
In the 1920's, many organizations limited the number of Jewish people they admitted, if any. It was a common practice that led to the disastrous response to the plight of the Jews during WWII. This is the 2020's, not the 1920's.
A Fever in the Heartland covers the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in Middle America. 1924 also saw the banning of Asians from the United States. It does seem like déjà vu all over again.
I like your response except for the comparison to Hillary Clinton's "deplorable" comment. I believe Hillary should have stood behind her comment and clarified that in her opinion, as in mine, anyone who is a racist and/or a sexist is deplorable.
An elitist would ask why a graduate of East Carolina University is so determined to badmouth Harvard. But I am not an elitist (despite my education), and regardless of McMahon's education, she has been amazingly successful, overcoming her own husband's sexual predation and the blatant misogyny of the professional wrestling community. However, my most significant dispute with her letter is the phrase, "the prosperity secured by the United States of America and its free-market system you teach your students to despise." My wife and I are proud Harvard College and Harvard Business School graduates. The latter is probably as responsible for the "free-market system" as any institution worldwide. What could be more "free-market" than accumulating a large endowment? As the Secretary of Education, she might do well to further her own. And, by the way, Elise Stefanik went to Harvard. I wonder how she got in?
If we couldn't make fun of these idiots some of our heads would explode.
She is a dunce.
I understand the satisfaction derived from mocking illiterate, unqualified individuals who have been elevated by a president who is illiterate and unqualified. But let's not be distracted; there is a bit more at stake than the ability to make cogent arguments or to spell and punctuate correctly.
This is part of an assault on institutions and intellect. Don't deride it merely because the letter would not pass a decent spell-check or an eighth-grade grammarian's eye. Condemn the letter for its intent.
Here is another unqualified nominee, whose nomination has been withdrawn:
"Trump’s Surgeon General Pick Distorted Key Parts of Her Résumé
Nesheiwat falsified, misled, selectively omitted, or lied about her medical education, board certifications, and military experience"
https://lastcampaign.substack.com/p/trumps-surgeon-general-pick-distorted
She's a fraud. She'd have fit in well.
Trump withdrew Nesheiwat's nomination after Laura Loomer complained about her "pro-Covid vaccine" stance. Her replacement is a big fan of RFK, Jr.
The letter mentions Harvard’s $53.2 billion endowment, larger than the GDP of 100 countries, presumably to generate populist resentment against those wealthy elites. It was written, or at least signed, by the lady wrestler Trump put in charge of dismantling the Dept. of Education. She’s worth $3.2 billion, and the oligarchs in the Trump administration have a cumulative wealth of $428.3 billion, higher than the GDP of 174 countries.
What Trump really doesn’t like about Harvard and other universities is that they don’t embrace MAGA’s white nationalist world view. They’re too diverse and inclusive.
In reshaping the workforce this is also an attempt to throw academics into the general job market, as they’ve done and continue to do with federal employees. Suppressing wages for professional level positions because of the numbers of qualified applicants? I’m becoming familiar with this argument, true or no, in any case
I have fantasized during the unfolding story of the Federal Government versus Harvard and other schools that the schools just walk away. They refuse federal funding and do not participate in research sponsored by the Federal Government. I realize that this will never happen because of economics and the aspirations of scientist and would be scientists. What would the government do then? Would it be like the dog that caught the car? Maybe schools will become more discriminating and not rush into deals when the Feds wave dollars or appeal to the school's patriotic duty, It is a fantasy but it still fun to speculate.
Harvard has been guilty of anti-semitism. In the 1920s, Harvard President Lawrence was concerned that Jewish enrollment had blossomed from six to 22 percent. He imposed a Jewish Quota which stood for several decades. Harvard has been guilty of elitism. My favorite example is the secretary answering the phone in 1910: “The President (Harvard President Eliot) is in Washington visiting Mr. Taft.” But if you want to see the Harvard I knew, look at a few episodes of “The Closer You Look.” (https://www.thecloseryoulook.com/)
In the 1920's, many organizations limited the number of Jewish people they admitted, if any. It was a common practice that led to the disastrous response to the plight of the Jews during WWII. This is the 2020's, not the 1920's.
A Fever in the Heartland covers the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in Middle America. 1924 also saw the banning of Asians from the United States. It does seem like déjà vu all over again.
That is a stunning book about the KKK and how close they came to becoming President to the United states.
I listened to the audio version of Fever in the Heartland. Excellent book, well-researched and informative.
Hmmn, I thought I saw it on MSNBC and here https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14685541/Trump-Education-Secretary-critics-spot-errors-letter-Harvard.html?ito=facebook_share_article-top&fbclid=IwY2xjawKKnQBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFMbFJnSDBJNHBYTEE2UW1oAR6wWssFMt3Nlk7fcwvt27NFqfr2RXD35r4TRXUK7b6tWRkjF0h0mH7omtWRHA_aem_kyLkgZnkKTiV3SwPYxAkbQ
I like your response except for the comparison to Hillary Clinton's "deplorable" comment. I believe Hillary should have stood behind her comment and clarified that in her opinion, as in mine, anyone who is a racist and/or a sexist is deplorable.
An elitist would ask why a graduate of East Carolina University is so determined to badmouth Harvard. But I am not an elitist (despite my education), and regardless of McMahon's education, she has been amazingly successful, overcoming her own husband's sexual predation and the blatant misogyny of the professional wrestling community. However, my most significant dispute with her letter is the phrase, "the prosperity secured by the United States of America and its free-market system you teach your students to despise." My wife and I are proud Harvard College and Harvard Business School graduates. The latter is probably as responsible for the "free-market system" as any institution worldwide. What could be more "free-market" than accumulating a large endowment? As the Secretary of Education, she might do well to further her own. And, by the way, Elise Stefanik went to Harvard. I wonder how she got in?