Nobel laureate Sir Angus Deaton on why he signed an anti-Trump petition, and why universities are partly to blame for Trump’s rise
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“Many academics live in liberal, cosmopolitan bubbles, little penetrated by rumblings from outside the walls. Elite universities run the risk of serving, or being seen to serve, only the very rich, minorities, and foreigners, leaving little access for the American working class. Those with relatively little education have shared little in the rising prosperity of the coasts, their health and life expectancy are faltering, and they have steadily lost political influence – at least until they elected Trump.”
I was confused by his use of the term ‘populist assault’. Isn’t that called voting?
But as to the bubble, yes. Here in California Jerry Brown is threatening to cut off middle class scholarships to pay for college. Meanwhile the Regents raised the tuition. Saying ‘well there’s always Community College’ sounds a bit like ‘let them eat cake’. So the middle class sees access to college as unaffordable at the same time blue collar jobs are going away.
I see this thread lasting maybe another five minutes, but until then…
IMO the rise of Trump correlates with the nationalism we are seeing in other countries such as the UK, Austria, Australia and France. I don’t think universities are to be blamed. In fact, I argue the opposite. Less educated people are going to be drawn to divisive rhetoric, especially if they are living in poor economic conditions. Refugees and people from countries with very differnt cultures than our own are a convenient scapegoat. That, amongst other factors, (which would take too long to elaborate on, as I suspect this thread only has three minutes left,) all contribute to this current retreat into isolationism.
@toomanyteens , there is a petition in the UK which has been signed by well over a million people to urge the Queen to refuse to see Trump for an official state visit.
@HarvestMoon1, trust me. The visa issue is one thing. The “drafts” which seem to be getting floated may be another. But broadly speaking the order issued on Friday is constitutional. No real lawyer believes otherwise. Including Sally Yates and Larry Tribe.
@toomanyteens I think the point of the petition is to send a message to him and to the British leadership. And the message isn’t “hey, we love your ideas!”