Why is Rice so underrated?

<p>Suburbia..yes, extremely conservative. A Washington Post article last year actually named Sugar Land (right outside of Houston) the national haven for conservatives. It's the reddest of the red. But! in Houston, there are TONS of really cool liberal people. There's a lot of organizations for the revolutionaries (indymedia, food not bombs, houston global awareness, not in our name, progressive action alliance, etc) and lots of cool human rights orgs (amnesty, texas coalition to abolish the death penalty). </p>

<p>There's good entertainment, too. We aren't as popular as Austin for our indie music, but you can always find cool shows to go to on the weekends, or film festivals (at Rice, or the museum). And.. if you like Starbucks, there is a Starbucks everywhere you look. Seriously.</p>

<p>I never knew Sugar Land was conservative (that is where I live).</p>

<p>dude.. are you serious? You live in Tom DeLay's district. tom "it's not my job to improve education" DeLay! </p>

<p>all of our local reps and local city council and local everything (including the fort bend sun and fort bend star newspapers) are conservative. i live in mo city, by the way, and it is a little bit more liberal, but yeah.. you live in a very conservative area.</p>

<p>Do you go to Clements?</p>

<p>I am a Dulles alum; I am also Libertarian, by the way.</p>

<p>nspeds: I am actually a Libertarian and am surviving quite well in Texas. However, some would argue that Libertarians are not really liberal... or conservative for that matter.</p>

<p>What on earth do you mean nspeds? Libertarians are not really liberal?</p>

<p>sreis,</p>

<p>Libertarians cannot be assigned to a specific place on a political spectrum. Hence the phrase "Libertarians are so far left, they are almost right." Do not let the stem "Libert" mislead you.</p>

<p>I don't believe I am. Libertarians are not left at all. They are not "so far left, they are almost right." They are more so truly right that they make conservatives today look like fun-loving liberal pansies.</p>

<p>sreis,</p>

<p>Once again, it depends on what aspects of Libertarianism you are regarding. Certain aspects are liberal and certain are conservative, thus pinpointing them on a scale would be a foolhardy task. Please do not make me delve into ethical/political philosophy in order to explain this. If you truly wish to educate yourself in this regard, read "Anarchy, State, and Utopia," by Robert Nozick.</p>

<p><a href="http://politics.abovetopsecret.com/thread102492/pg1%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://politics.abovetopsecret.com/thread102492/pg1&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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To many persons, the political spectrum is characterized by a line drawn between liberal and conservative positions. A question then becomes, are libertarians conservative or liberal? It is a good question. True, libertarians share some ideas in common with both "liberals" and "conservatives." Some libertarians would answer the question "both", and others would answer "neither." To answer the question, we must realize the political spectrum is not a linear scale, but a two-dimensional map. David Nolan, co-founder of the Libertarian Party, developed the "Nolan Chart", most often seen as the World's Smallest Political Quiz, which incorporates a second axis depicting the libertarian vs. authoritarian spectrum.

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<p>Source: <a href="http://brutus.graceland.edu/%7Efarnham/libertarian.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://brutus.graceland.edu/~farnham/libertarian.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Edit: Last time I checked, anarchy, which falls under the libertarian ideology (though not all libertarians advocate it), is quite a liberal concept. </p>

<p>I will not discuss this issue any further.</p>

<p>There are VERY few libertarians who advocate anarchy. Rather than post links, copy and paste your google searches, and then cop out under "I will not discuss this issue any further" like you are some political god, why don't you just channel your efforts into real discussion?</p>

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There are VERY few libertarians who advocate anarchy.

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<p>1) You offer no evidence to corroborate this claim.
2) This "minor exception" would seem to contradict your original claim. This only further proves my point in that you cannot adequately conflate the libertarian ideology and assign it to some arbitrary point on a political spectrum. Such an act would be akin to a hasty generalization, which is a logical fallacy.</p>

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you are some political god

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<p>I am no such thing; however, I have submitted an article for publishing that conveys an accurate depiction of the libertarian ideology at its core. It is much more accurate than your summation, that much is certain.</p>

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why don't you just channel your efforts into real discussion?

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<p>Primarily because the purpose of this forum is to discuss "Rice University," and not engage in political debates; I am also in the process of writing a paper on Kantian metaphysics, and this discussion has a high potential for distracting me at my task. However, if you are really passionate about this dispute, I suggest that you, first (1), learn the logical fallacies, and (2) read a piece on the Libertarian* ideology or send me a private message so we can engage in this discussion without detracting from the purpose of this forum.</p>

<p>There is a distinction between **Libertarians and **libertarians. The former advocates a **minimalist* state while the latter endorses anarchy. </p>

<p>Good Day:)</p>

<p>Edited for rhetorical accuracy.</p>

<p>Its laughable how you start a paragraph with "Primarily because the purpose of this forum is to discuss Rice University, and not engage in political debates" and then follow with nothing at all related to Rice University. Its also a biting rhetorical stategy when you enumberate your accomplishments, like anyone cares what you have done in the past. I can really put faith into your "paper on Kantian metaphysics" and your "accurate depicition of libertarian ideology." For all anyone knows, these could be made up, and even if they are not, they have no place here. Besides this thread is dead, so don't scurry away under some guise of serving the public good.
Now for argument's sake, there is nothing central to libertarian ideology that endorses anarchy. If you believe free-market economics and limited government control is anarchy, then your statement would be reasonable. Is this your intent?
I do not wish to pick a point on the political spectrum for libertarians, and any argument about this line is futile and elementary. I mean to say that I believe your are oversimplifying libertarianism by calling some aspects liberal and some conservative. It is true that LIBERALS tend to coincide WITH LIBERTARIANS on social issues and conservatives tend to coincide WITH LIBERTARIANS on economics issues, but this does not mark libertarianism as some mixture of liberal and conservative beliefs. Libertarianism can best be understood not in abstract moral descriptions, but by example. To say a libertarian favors a minimalist government, is sadly a meek description, but is reasonable based on your nature to argue as little as possible and use as much filler to accomplish well, nothing really.
By the phrase to "corroborate [my] claim," it appears you are looking for some statistic. I am sorry, but this statement really does not lend itself to that. Libertarians are practical and recognize that we are a nation of laws that our society depends on, even if those laws are verbose and unnecessary. Libertarians wish to attack the agencies which defend the laws that violate individual freedom, not to attack the entire frame or concept of government. Sure it would be nice in the libertarian eye if we could eventually do away with laws as our society becomes used to running itself, rather than have the government make decisions (financial such as Social Security, social such as personal drug use) for you, but that is not the clear goal in mind, nor is it the defining element to libertarian philosophy.
It seems that you learn philosophy just for the sake of learning the lingo, as in logical fallacies, which are important, but spare me the advice to learn them. I believe you have more books on philosophy than ideas. If you care to disprove me, then please respond (and don't give some weak answer that you have like 3 books, keep this mature and cerebral).</p>

<p>So guys - why do you think rice is so underrated?</p>

<p>haha thanks jenskate1, as always.</p>

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It is laughable how you start a paragraph with "Primarily because the purpose of this forum is to discuss Rice University, and not engage in political debates" and then follow with nothing at all related to Rice University.

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<p>So much for keeping this mature and cerebral;)</p>

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Its also a biting rhetorical stategy when you enumberate your accomplishments, like anyone cares what you have done in the past.

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<p>It is not an accomplishment, really.</p>

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I can really put faith into your "paper on Kantian metaphysics" and your "accurate depicition of libertarian ideology." For all anyone knows, these could be made up, and even if they are not, they have no place here.

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<p>The former does have a place here, since last I recall, you are arguing about the Libertarian ideology. The latter is also relavent in that I have work to do, and it is work that requires ** concentration**.</p>

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Besides this thread is dead

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<p>How does that justify perpetuating a political debate?</p>

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so don't scurry away under some guise of serving the public good.

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<p>Public Good? Look at the title of this forum; this is not a place for political discussions. The customary act, if this thread really is dead, is to let it go to the archives instead of perpetuating an irrelavent discussion.</p>

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Now for argument's sake, there is nothing central to libertarian ideology that endorses anarchy.

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<p>Yes there is: rights preservation. Though Robert Nozick succesfully proved that any notion of anarchy is absurd, since an invisible hand would automatically establish a minimal state.</p>

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f you believe free-market economics and limited government control is anarchy, then your statement would be reasonable.

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<p>There are multiple ideologies within the Libertarian philosophy. As adumbrated, it would be foolish to conflate the entire system into two lines, as you have just done.</p>

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I mean to say that I believe your are oversimplifying libertarianism by calling some aspects liberal and some conservative.

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<p>Hardly an oversimplification. It is merely a tacit refusal to conflate the Libertarian ideology under words such as "liberal" or "conservative," when it really does not fit either of them.</p>

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It is true that LIBERALS tend to coincide WITH LIBERTARIANS on social issues and conservatives tend to coincide WITH LIBERTARIANS on economics issues, but this does not mark libertarianism as some mixture of liberal and conservative beliefs.

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<p>That is not my justification for refusing to align libertarianism under "liberal" or "conservative;" it is merely your assertion.</p>

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Libertarianism can best be understood not in abstract moral descriptions, but by example. To say a libertarian favors a minimalist government, is sadly a meek description

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<p>Once again, your habitual lack of evidence in this regard only harms you. There is an enormous ethical predicate within the Libertarian ideology, and to argue otherwise is sheer ignorance. I might as well append some evidence to this post, if you will not.</p>

<p>"[T]he moral side constraints upon what we may do, I claim, reflect the fact of our separate existences. They reflect the fact that no moral balancing act can take place among us; there is no moral outweighing of one of our lives by others so as to lead to a greater overall social good. There is no justified sacrifice of some of us for others. This root idea, namely, that there are different individuals with separate lives and so no be sacrificed for others, underlies the existence of moral side constraints, but it also, I believe, leads to a libertarian side constraint that prohibits aggression against another."</p>

<p>This is a statement from Robert Nozick's "Anarchy, State, and Utopia." I strongly suggest that you heed his statement instead of arguing against it; former Harvard Philosophy Professors tend to easily defeat petty students.</p>

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but is reasonable based on your nature to argue as little as possible and use as much filler to accomplish well, nothing really.

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<p>I do apologize for the fact that I have work to do. On Monday, I will tell my professor that the task of engaging in a meaningless debate over the internet is significantly more important than finishing his paper:)</p>

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By the phrase to "corroborate [my] claim," it appears you are looking for some statistic. I am sorry, but this statement really does not lend itself to that. Libertarians are practical

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<p>On the contrary, deontological ethics are hardly practical.</p>

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and recognize that we are a nation of laws that our society depends on, even if those laws are verbose and unnecessary. Libertarians wish to attack the agencies which defend the laws that violate individual freedom, not to attack the entire frame or concept of government.

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<p>We only advocate a system that seeks the consent of the individual. I disagree with taxation not because it is reappropriating my money, but because I am coerced into doing so.</p>

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Sure it would be nice in the libertarian eye if we could eventually do away with laws as our society becomes used to running itself, rather than have the government make decisions (financial such as Social Security, social such as personal drug use) for you, but that is not the clear goal in mind, nor is it the defining element to libertarian philosophy.

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<p>You are somewhat correct, for once.</p>

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It seems that you learn philosophy just for the sake of learning the lingo, as in logical fallacies, which are important, but spare me the advice to learn them.

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<p>I recommend that you heed the advice I provided, as you will not be able to advance in any academic field when your writings are drenched in them.</p>

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I believe you have more books on philosophy than ideas.

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<p>That summation would be correct, but not to the detriment of my argumentation. Philosophy undergrads rarely construct novel ideas, since it requires a historical and intricate understanding of what has already been propounded. Usually, the most novel ideas are expounded in graduate dissertations and so forth. However, I am actually about four years ahead of myself in that I have already constructed a novel idea in the paper I submitted for publishing.</p>

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If you care to disprove me, then please respond (and don't give some weak answer that you have like 3 books, keep this mature and cerebral).

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<p>No, if you wish to have a mature and cerebral discussion, dispose of the insults and send me a private message.</p>

<p>can we all please just drop this arguing?? jenskate had perfectly adjusted the direction of this thread for the better and all you did, nspeds, was worsen the whole situation by taking the time to type up a long entry, complete with quotes and logistical argument. just let it go, will you?</p>

<p>and please don't attempt to quote what i've said to concoct another one of those long entries with copied-and-pasted quotes. </p>

<p>thank you.</p>

<p>edit: and also, I really don't want to get into another argument with you again, nspeds. the whole purpose of this entry was not to point my finger at you. now let's talk about why rice is so underrated.....</p>

<p>I think I agree with lindsey's response that Rice "would be rated higher and better recognized if so many of the students weren't from Texas."</p>

<p>Rice is very well-known in Houston and the rest of Texas, but not in other states because there aren't that many students that are accepted or eventually attend Rice from other states. I understand that due to Rice's popularity in Texas, it only makes sense that there are more applicants from Texas applying. However, if Rice tried to accept more students that are out-of-state, then more students would be coming from diverse places and their respective families/friends/classmates would hear about Rice. Eventually, Rice would be more well-known.</p>

<p>If Rice keeps pulling a large number of students from the same region, then holistically, it makes sense to me that it will only be well-known among people from that region.</p>

<p>Edit: Thank you, collegekid88.</p>

<p>i don't think rice is necessarily "underrated." based on my own personal experience, few schools outside of HYPSM are especially well known to the "general public." most elite, prestigious universities are well known only among academic circles or regionally (to the general public). Most of my friends who are only applying instate have never heard of schools like Dartmouth, WUSTL, Northwestern or even UPenn. just my 2 cents.</p>

<p>icymoon: Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that when Rice was created, it is stated somewhere that the purpose of the school was to provide a place of higher learning for the citizens of Texas. I'm not sure if there is a official quota that they have to fill, but it seems to me that Rice is retains that dedication to serving the people of Texas. I'm a little hazy on the details.
I agree with you though. If Rice wants to raise its reputation nationwide, it should draw more from states other than Texas. I'm not saying substantially though. I realize that Rice receives many qualified applicants especially from Texas. Rice should just make a small effort to bring in students from other states.</p>