Is the public education system spending our tax dollars to teach our children that “profit” is a bad thing? Well, it appears that in Saskatchewan they are not only teaching children that, they’re also spending tax dollars to advertise the fact they’re doing that.
How whacky is that?
Check out some of the comments over at SDA as well.
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/04/economists-selfish-b.html
Would you prefer a world full of economists?
At least the X-ray inventor invented something useful. Compare it to http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Strangeloves-Game-History-Economic/dp/0676974481
Two things Rob:
1. I try to shy away from making generalizations about the character traits of a particular profession. I suspect your remark is a veiled reference to Stephen Harper. I know a few economists and they are quite distinct from one and other, but at least they have a fundamental grasp of fiscal matters.
2. This post was not intended to be critical of the inventor of the X-Ray (although X-Rays were not invented, they were discovered), rather it was critical of the message being advertised by the public school board suggesting profit is a bad thing. That is an ideological/political position that most Canadians would take issue with, and it’s a message that has no place in our public schools.
1. Stephen Harper is an economist? I did not know that. I just thought it was an interesting article in contrast to the ‘profit motive’ ascribed to all things “good”. It can go the other way.
Don’t get me wrong: yay capitalism! Personal engagement/ownership is one of the system’s crowning glories. Nothing else has been able to manage that successfully.
I do recommend the book. The history of economics has ups and downs. Economics has done great good in the past and will continue to do in the future; but when it does poorly, it’s spectacularly bad.
Another good one:
http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Organizing-Organizations/dp/1594201536
in the first chapter: humans are by nature social creatures, collective action is in our genes. Do non-social systems — eg. dog-eat-dog commercialism — go against our evolution?
2. I agree with you: politics + education invariably is a bad thing. As with the USA, try combining politics + education + religion. That’s when the sparks really fly.
NB: using “…most Canadians would take issue with…” as a rebuttal point could do with a stronger reposte. Saying “…I take issue with…” is much stronger position; full ownership of a position always makes for a better debating tactic. Personalizing it also makes it unassailable. I can’t argue with your opinion, but I can question the source of “most ___” statements.
[I learned that one from a friend of mine here in the Second City... she's a debate coach for a local university]
PS: thanks for not binning these comments. I miss TO and everyone there.