[PEN-L:11225] tenure & attention

[James Devine <jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wait a sec! if it weren't for tenure, I couldn't contribute so much to
pen-l! ;-)
I guess that ability is a form of rent. Tenure does create a form of rent,
though I think that the ban on mandatory retirement (in the US) is a bigger
problem when it's applied to tenured faculty. (It makes sense for
nontenured jobs.)

As to University Presidents, getting beyond the corrupt ones of the sort
that Jim Craven mentions, their main job is to give speeches and more
importantly, to raise money. As such they produce nothing except a warmer
temperature in the room, since raising money is just a redistribution.
Maybe the solution is to do what we do: our Pres. is a priest, whose salary
mostly returns to the university's coffers (with some sticking to the
Jesuit community's piggy bank). Of course, then you get a lot of religious
baggage. (It's a little like Plato's REPUBLIC, where the place is run by a
bunch of ascetic Guardians. No communal sharing of women that I know of,
though.) Frankly, I think universities should be workers' co-ops (with the
limits I mentioned in previous posts).

Two messages bring up the fact that not everything that's posted to pen-l
evokes a response. god knows I try, but one can't pay attention to
everything, respond to everything!

The US actions toward Cuba have been one big war crime since 1959. I doubt
that the pen-l members in the US were silent on this because they approve
of US foreign policy. Rather, what can one say at this point? is there a
demonstration we can go to? We're ruled by Clintonbush sleaze-bags who will
continue to commit such crimes until there's an extraparliamentary movement
pushing them to stop. I'd like to bring in the war crimes tribunal at the
Hague, but calling for such is idle and futile. Why should they listen to me?

The other message is from Max: >>... I find it pathetic that this is the
first mention on PEN-L this year of a little thing called the Federal
budget... Anybody ever consider how academic discourse, including the
"marxian" variety (replete with fantasies of "extreme class struggle")
becomes a shield from politics?<<

Discussions of the Federal budget show up in the L.A. TIMES at least three
times a week. Just because it doesn't show up on pen-l doesn't mean that it
doesn't exist in pen-l members' minds. Maybe the lack of comment on this
issue represents an admirable restraint in posting (something that I tend
to lack, mea culpa). But unless something especially interesting or useful
is said, I see no reason to have pen-l posts. Anyway, Max, you could have
posted a lot of stuff on this subject, just as Dave Richardson used to post
the interesting labor updates. (I, for one, miss them.) Why didn't you do
so? didn't you think it was important?

BTW, I haven't seen any references to "extreme class struggle" on pen-l.
(BTW, it's no fantasy: that's what Clinton and Gingrich are doing.) Also,
it should be noted that pen-l does not simply consist of academics and
politics is more than parliamentary maneuverings.

>>Only one person here took me up on my query regarding advice to the
French social- democratic movement. I don't expect anyone to jump at my
signal, but the deafening silence is testimony to the same problem.<<

Perhaps people were so dismayed by the French SDs' growing sell-out that
they didn't see any point to answering your call. I can't speak for anyone
but myself, but it seems a bit futile to propose policy solutions to people
who will ignore them (especially given that my suggestions would come from
the US). Given the balance of political forces in France and the
international constraints, maybe it's reasonable for the French SDs to


ignore them. If I were in France, I would be trying to change that balance...

That said, I am not against policy proposals. It's not my specialty, but
I'm always interested in creative ones, especially ones that are designed
to keep our rulers honest rather than being based on faith in their
benevolence. BTW, telling people to resist wage cuts & attacks on civilian
programs (to avoid underconsumption, etc.) is a form of policy advice. It's
aimed at the people, a more worthwhile audience than the policy elite.

>>This is the best context for understanding, for example, the knocks here
on "micro-credit" or labor-owned/managed firms.<<

I don't remember what was said about micro-credit, but I remember that
positive things were said about labor-owned firms, in addition to the
negative things. Max, did you want pen-l to be a one-sided chorus endorsing
labor-owned firms or whatever policy initiative you're into? I've always
thought that criticism was part of the thinking process.

>>The fact seems to be that NO scheme under capitalism is deemed worthy of
support, so the Johnny-one-note criticism of any particular one is of
reduced interest. Potentially
useful, if not world-shaking, measures are dismissed for failing to live up
to world- historical standards.<<

That may be true for some on pen-l, but it's not true for all.

BTW, why didn't pen-l comment on the absorption of Hong Kong by China? on
the adventures of the Mars rover? We can't comment on everything! we
shouldn't.

that's it for today.

in pen-l solidarity,

Jim Devine   jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
jim_devine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ.
7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA
310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950
"It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.