This note is probably for David because nothing I say here will be particularly new to most of us.
Part of the problem may be definitional. We have people in our department would fit in the Democratic leadership Council framework. They would define themselves as liberal, not conservative. They're not the majority in our department but far. But except on wedge issues, they would not differ greatly from a traditional Midwestern Republican. Also, I think that you might see a difference by cohorts. I was tired in 1971 because the department sensed a growing radicalism and thought that someone like me might be able to attract greater enrollments. I would not be hired today. Someone was my mindset would not be hired in virtually any four-year college today unless that person had a degree from a very prestigious university. Berkeley, my alma mater, would not be sufficient. Finally, the university is not an egalitarian institution. Trustees, presidents, deans, and lesser administrators exert considerable power, limiting what a radical might say or do. I have not heard of many cases of people being disciplined for conservative beliefs. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu
