The simple fact is that a handful of people who were really smart figured out how to make a ton of money selling the same product in essentially the same market conditions as before at 10 times the price. My initial reaction was one of elation as I hoped to catch a glimpse of Slick Billy Clinton or any one of LA's numerous limousine liberals. Initial excitement was soon whisked away. I am going to proselytize a little about a certain local piece of open space that is important to me, but I promise I will get off of the environmental issues soon. Maybe I will talk about CIA conspiracy theory, or anarchical syndicalism, or neoliberalism.
Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
I kind of agree with that. Essentially, I love the country I live in, but I also answer to higher laws than the US Constitution. The paramount obligation of a college is to develop in its students the ability to think clearly and independently, and the ability to live confidently, courageously and hopefully. As a newcomer to the Claremont Colleges, I first thought it was business as usual. You know, the old boy network of interlocking board memberships, the taint of commerce wafting through the halls of academe, the students intuitively opposed.