Generalized test scores by major are interesting statistics. These on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) are interesting. The major which does the best is Physics/Math followed by Philosophy. This is backed up by more statistics on several tests. Philosophy is at the top, although Math is not broken out separately. Math and Philosophy emphasize logic and thinking clearly.
And just to prove how messed up our education system is, Education majors are at the bottom of both lists. The only majors doing worse on the Law School test are Prelaw and Criminology, which is extremely ironic, and again proves how messed up our education system is.
26 December 2006
22 December 2006
A Plea for Minor Parties
It's 2006 and the republicans have lost the majority in both house and senate because of widespread dissatisfaction over the policies of president Bush, and more-or-less blatant corruption.
Remember back in 1994, when the democrats lost the majority in both house and senate because of more-or-less blatant corruption, and to a lesser extent dissatisfaction of the policies (or lack thereof) of president Clinton. That dissatisfaction grew and helped keep the republicans in power, which is a parallel I expect to see again as long as Bush is in office.
The strange thing is that while extravagant spending, socialist welfare programs, and centralization of power are normally seen as democratic tendencies, the republics continued to advance all of those things while in power. Even stranger is that while big military is viewed as a republican tendency, with the democrats in power, we are expecting to see a "surge" (I'll believe "temporary" when it happens) in troops levels in Iraq.
What we are seeing is two parties whose policies are in reality so close together that voters can "throw the bums out" at any time without affecting what really goes on in Washington. There are a few "hot button" issues, such as abortion and death penalty, which politicians love to take sides on because it gives the public the illusion that they are significantly different than their opponents. I am not saying those issues are not important, but that they are largely social issues which have been grossly expanded in their political importance, until presently their main purpose is to serve as distractions from the issues which politicians should be spending their time solving. An example is cutting spending, which every republican supports, but no republican will name a specific significant program he wishes to cut, because being specific is political suicide.
My own conclusion from this is that any vote for a major party is a wasted vote. I consider it wasted because it will not change what goes on in politics. Those in power will never change unless they perceive they are losing power to outsiders. So I encourage everyone else to stop wasting their votes on business-as-usual major parties. Vote libertarian; vote green; vote constitutional party; vote independent. You could even vote for that party with the smiley face logo. If we want change, we will have to accept third party candidates in all their unpolished politically-incorrect sincerity.
Remember back in 1994, when the democrats lost the majority in both house and senate because of more-or-less blatant corruption, and to a lesser extent dissatisfaction of the policies (or lack thereof) of president Clinton. That dissatisfaction grew and helped keep the republicans in power, which is a parallel I expect to see again as long as Bush is in office.
The strange thing is that while extravagant spending, socialist welfare programs, and centralization of power are normally seen as democratic tendencies, the republics continued to advance all of those things while in power. Even stranger is that while big military is viewed as a republican tendency, with the democrats in power, we are expecting to see a "surge" (I'll believe "temporary" when it happens) in troops levels in Iraq.
What we are seeing is two parties whose policies are in reality so close together that voters can "throw the bums out" at any time without affecting what really goes on in Washington. There are a few "hot button" issues, such as abortion and death penalty, which politicians love to take sides on because it gives the public the illusion that they are significantly different than their opponents. I am not saying those issues are not important, but that they are largely social issues which have been grossly expanded in their political importance, until presently their main purpose is to serve as distractions from the issues which politicians should be spending their time solving. An example is cutting spending, which every republican supports, but no republican will name a specific significant program he wishes to cut, because being specific is political suicide.
My own conclusion from this is that any vote for a major party is a wasted vote. I consider it wasted because it will not change what goes on in politics. Those in power will never change unless they perceive they are losing power to outsiders. So I encourage everyone else to stop wasting their votes on business-as-usual major parties. Vote libertarian; vote green; vote constitutional party; vote independent. You could even vote for that party with the smiley face logo. If we want change, we will have to accept third party candidates in all their unpolished politically-incorrect sincerity.
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