Rowan has the right idea but he doesn’t go nearly far enough. We, as a society, have granted private universities enormous privileges. They control great wealth but pay no taxes. In addition, donations are tax exempt. In addition, they act as gatekeepers to the best jobs in government, private industry and academia itself. And furthermor…
Rowan has the right idea but he doesn’t go nearly far enough. We, as a society, have granted private universities enormous privileges. They control great wealth but pay no taxes. In addition, donations are tax exempt. In addition, they act as gatekeepers to the best jobs in government, private industry and academia itself. And furthermore we supposedly believe in “academic freedom” meaning that university practices largely go unregulated.
We collectively choose to privilege universities in this way because we thought they provided unique benefits to our country. Supposedly they were going to provide fair and balanced education to our children. Supposedly they were going to provide unbiased scholarship to advance science, medicine and the humanities. Supposedly they were going to provide unbiased experts who could help us understand and manage the complexities of the modern world.
Not only have our universities failed in all these areas they no longer believe they should even try to be fair and unbiased. The people who run private university education in the US are an unaccountable privileged elite that are sure they know best and the hell with the rest of us.
So now it’s time to withdraw all the privileges we granted. No more tax exemptions either for investment earnings or donations. No more self regulation. Our elected representatives should provide close oversight over for example, hiring. Is it really reasonable that the faculties at all our top universities are all on the left? Isn’t this obvious discrimination?
I’m sure that those who are much more familiar with the academic world that I am can flesh out these proposals better than I can. But enough is enough. Let’s get started.
One more time: " Our elected representatives should provide close oversight...." Ya mean those geniuses now sitting in various chairs of authority should be entrusted with MORE powers?
YES. You have stated succinctly wha the problem is, and how to fix it. We should all copy and paste this into an email to our representatives. We need to bombard them.
Long past time to tax their endowments. They are nests of vipers and our nation does not profit from most of what they teach. Perhaps only allow an exception if the universities give tuition assistance solely for STEM courses.
Rowan has the right idea but he doesn’t go nearly far enough. We, as a society, have granted private universities enormous privileges. They control great wealth but pay no taxes. In addition, donations are tax exempt. In addition, they act as gatekeepers to the best jobs in government, private industry and academia itself. And furthermore we supposedly believe in “academic freedom” meaning that university practices largely go unregulated.
We collectively choose to privilege universities in this way because we thought they provided unique benefits to our country. Supposedly they were going to provide fair and balanced education to our children. Supposedly they were going to provide unbiased scholarship to advance science, medicine and the humanities. Supposedly they were going to provide unbiased experts who could help us understand and manage the complexities of the modern world.
Not only have our universities failed in all these areas they no longer believe they should even try to be fair and unbiased. The people who run private university education in the US are an unaccountable privileged elite that are sure they know best and the hell with the rest of us.
So now it’s time to withdraw all the privileges we granted. No more tax exemptions either for investment earnings or donations. No more self regulation. Our elected representatives should provide close oversight over for example, hiring. Is it really reasonable that the faculties at all our top universities are all on the left? Isn’t this obvious discrimination?
I’m sure that those who are much more familiar with the academic world that I am can flesh out these proposals better than I can. But enough is enough. Let’s get started.
Here is a plan that accomplishes two objectives. End all tax exempt
Status. Further add an excise tax of 100% on all endorsement earnings which are not spent.
One more time: " Our elected representatives should provide close oversight...." Ya mean those geniuses now sitting in various chairs of authority should be entrusted with MORE powers?
Correct, “government oversight “ is exactly what we do not need!
Just end the preferencial tax treat and make them spend down the endowments
YES. You have stated succinctly wha the problem is, and how to fix it. We should all copy and paste this into an email to our representatives. We need to bombard them.
Agree! I live in Florida and this is already underway here, because of the intelligence and leadership of DeSantis and Rufo.
I, too, live in Florida. I appreciate what DeSantis is doing at New College, but it needs to be done nationwide.
Long past time to tax their endowments. They are nests of vipers and our nation does not profit from most of what they teach. Perhaps only allow an exception if the universities give tuition assistance solely for STEM courses.
No. No exceptions. No tax exempt status. No tax deduction for contributions. No government subsidy.
But, but, what aboutWomen’s Studies? What about Gender Studies?
If they are so important, people will pay full price!
Both complete wastes of time.