Archives For April 20, 2017

Far from men and women being paid differently for the same work, these data show that male doctoral students disproportionately pursue STEM fields with high demands on math skills, which subsequently pay more in the marketplace.

 

Factoring in differences in fields of study, which exist not only at the Ph.D. level but in undergraduate and Master’s-level education as well, would shrink the potential range of gender discrimination even further.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewbiggs/2017/04/20/whats-your-major-another-blow-to-the-so-called-gender-pay-gap/#71d0f9e07b81

This research paper empirically espouses what I believed to be basic common knowledge which is the tendency for both conservative and liberals to be equally biased. From the study we can deduce that the myth of conservatives being more stooped in bias is largely perpetuated by liberals stranglehold on media and education institutions. Because these institutions are selective in hiring and require peer reviews to submit work they have become the perfect echo chambers for homogeneous ideological beliefs to thrive in this case liberal beliefs. The best solutions in combating scientific bias are to remove the safety blinders by seeking dissimilar fact sources, scrutinizing information from multiple sources, and to refrain from simply accepting fact on the basis that it confirms your bias.

 

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2952510

African Selves

April 20, 2017 — Leave a comment

Interesting article which challenges the idea that liberal principles and individual liberty are mere white European constructs. Those ascribing to identity politics won’t be pleased to have their narrative challenged. This also goes for ethno nationalists who scoff at the notion that certain civilizations are not capable of such enlightened thought.

 

https://www.firstthings.com/blogs/leithart/2017/04/african-selves

Q&A: Economist Tyler Cowen Thinks Americans Are Too Complacent

It appears that the SGA of Western Kentucky University has gone full on virtue signalling as they recently passed a resolution that would grant black students free tuition in hopes of absolving themselves of their sins which include not being black. Here are some of the ridiculous reasons given for this drastic action that would be forced upon the student population:

  • Universities like to claim diversity without acknowledging the negative effects of slavery and segregation on black students
  • Past racial disparity has evolved into economic disparity in today’s society, making it difficult for black youth to attend college
  • If you really care about diversity, if you really care about inclusion, if you really care about making this campus safe and accessible to everybody, having the student government’s support of reparation for black students would be amazing
  • A lot of times equality can feel like oppression for those who are losing their advantage, but that’s not a reason we shouldn’t fight for equality
  • The point of a resolution like this is basically to make a huge statement saying that the Student Government Association recognizes the impact that slavery has had on black people today and that changes need to be made

Alright lets start  by breaking down what is actually being stated and then I will demonstrate the lunacy behind these reasons. Firstly its utter rubbish for someone to insinuate that giving one demographic of the student population preferential treatment is somehow a form of equality. In case this person didn’t know, equality (ɪˈkwɒlɪtɪ) is the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status. In other words giving some free tuition and not others doesn’t constitute equality. Now can you see why some students might feel its oppression? Because it is. Additionally what course of action is going to be taken for those black students with the financial means to pay their own tuition bill. Are they simply going to receive these benefits by association? It seems rather baffling that a society that desires to be as egalitarian as possible would enact such policies based on someones race. Furthermore who is going to pay for this free tuition? Is it going to come from endowments and donations from Alumni? Because I can already foresee that not being feasible and Western Kentucky could easily see that backfire as they lose enrollment and donations. Is the government going to foot the bill? I’m not sure many already cash strapped constituents would be keen to see their tax dollars go to such a project. 

On the subject of slavery that is entirely true. Historically blacks were held under bondage and in the south did suffer under Jim Crow laws. That being said why does their oppression get preferential retroactive benefits that other oppressed groups don’t receive. Are the Jews who suffered from the Holocaust entitled to additional benefits? What about the Armenians? What about other ethnic groups who suffered slave conditions? Native Americans? Where do we draw the line for which groups are entitled to retroactive justice and which groups are not? Or is the entire point of this exercise for everyone not white with a grievance to receive benefits until satisfied? Not only does this appear to be a form of racism via identity politics but in a society that desires equality these policies are not what we want. Better methods for increasing diversity would be increasing the number of qualified blacks into your universities. Helping said qualified blacks remain in school academically and encouraging them to major in hard sciences and not just the social sciences would be vastly more beneficial. Blacks at colleges and universities would be unbelievably stigmatized as not qualified due to this which is why I wouldn’t personally take free tuition based on my race even if offered. I see no reason why you would want to provoke and alienate your fellow students and in the process give ammunition for others to question your credentials and ability to learn. And at the end of the day whether black students get free tuition  won’t change their views or identity politics. They will remain able to complain about white supremacy and the effects of slavery I guarantee it.

http://wkuherald.com/news/sga-passes-resolution-to-support-reparations-for-black-students-at/article_6bf2a05a-0d4e-5fad-8da2-11a58f185eb0.html