Could a conservative survive at Reed?

As a vet and current student most of these liberal posts strike me as “bizarre”. I thought colleges were supposed to open the student’s mind? I know 18-22 is your formative years, but please don’t be so naive that you buy into all the crap they sell you. Since being back in school I’ve noticed academia will at times twist, or in some cases, completely omit truths in order to sell their side of the argument. (I’m looking at YOU, sociology department). The military is bad, the U.S. is bad, capitalism is bad, religion is bad, life sucks, yata yata yata…Cookie cutter views I’ve heard a thousand times. Students rehash and reuse these arguments without ever giving serious thought to the other side (a point-of-view that was probably never presented to them). This basic denial of critical thought churns out liberal ideologues with irrational belief systems. Hopefully as they garner more life perspective they’ll wake up to the truth…

Herndon, Va.: Mr. O’Rourke: You are my favorite author. In your journey from “hippie dope-taking liberal” to “judicious alcohol-drinking conservative” was there any point where you looked at the history of your life and said “What the hell happened?”

P.J. O’Rourke: No. I had a clear road-to-Damascus experience. When I was a hippie I thought I was a Socialist. Then I got my first paycheck and found that state, federal and local governments took almost half my pay. Thereby I discovered that we had socialism already. And since I was opposed to the status quo I went out and joined the Republican Party.

Fascinating discussion, but one that I cannot but think has gotten as far off topic as any I have seen in some time. So closing thread. If people want to continue discussing conservatism, capitalism, war, student brainwashing or any other of these interesting things, please start a thread in the Parent Cafe. But I am closing this thread as irretrievably off course.

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