The Problems With The American Anti Intellectualism Movement Politics Essay

The Problems With The the Statesn anti Intellectualism Movement Politics EssayThe anti- quick-wittedism parkway facing America right away is a problem with far-reaching implications. There is currently a revival of this forepart in American governmental life. Anti-intellectualism is defined as the opposition to or hostility towards intellectuals, or to an intellectual view or approach (Merriam Webster). The anti-intellectualism sweat is characterized by the contempt for advanced teaching method, the freehanded humanities, and science. Anti-intellectualism in the policy-making reach has founded itself on contempt for intellectuals, claiming that they atomic number 18 elites who be committed to ideological facetiousness kinda than practical application. However, it waits that toying with past and present ideas is required to sire the approximately effective policy-making policies. Anti-intellectualism is a result of a helplessness precept system, the integration of perform into state, and the ease with which political pundits can jam the media. Currently, anti-intellectualism is spreading like a plague through the American political landscape. We as citizens can inoculate this disease through a stand in overhaul of the US knowledge system. An improvement to the educational system could relieve oneself out with increased liberal arts integration into primary, secondary, and university education curriculums. In plus to the education system, the general American public call for to be learn about the basic American democratic tenant of separation of church and state. Furtherto a greater extent, implementing more regulation on political pundits and demagogues in the media is necessary for the advance and success of governing in America.Anti-intellectualism seems to promote the attitude that acquaintance which is non useful has no value and is not worth learning companionship for acquaintances saki (DeFilippis, The Oklahoma Daily) is of little importance in anti-intellectualism. However, acquaintance for knowledges sake (liberal arts education) could prove to be very beneficial in politics. uncomplete primary nor secondary schools consider the liberal arts a priority, and at the take of university education, students be faceed to decl atomic number 18 majors that funnel them into profitable jobs a very sm tot completelyy percentage of university students are encouraged to interest in the liberal arts. Our current education system exit at last lead us to be alienated from whiz another because pile will simply be educated in their particular profession. at large(p) arts education, because it educates the whole individual, submits citizens an examineing of why their particular profession contributes to the whole. Therefore, all populate will be able to see why all jobs are important. Liberal arts education encourages knowledge of many subjects. It would seem that knowledge of many subjects would be most(prenominal) effective in impacting political ideas since politics incorporates so many facets of life. Liberal arts education infuses students with knowledge of the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the US. Having historical and philosophical knowledge of America is thoroughgoing to making informed political choices that best reflect what was intended for this country- we would not involve to collapse into what our founding fathers escaped from. Liberal arts education would create more informed and progressive voters and politicians because they would be acquainted with a considerable scope of policies that have not worked in the past this would let in us as an electorate body to spring into the prox by creating upstart ideas and better political policies. Furthermore, multitude educated in the liberal arts who have developed ordered intellects seem necessary in politics since these people are more educated in a physique of issues that affect a variety of people. As a result, those educated in the liberal arts will have the ability to understand and approach issues that apply to many persons (the entire American populous), and not just one group. Liberal arts education promotes the progression of the individual mind which in effect promotes the progression of the collective mind which then positively affects the electorate and the decisions they make in the face of stark naked problems.Furthermore, with the emergence and further development of the globalized world, American citizens need to be educated on global issues now more than ever in order for America to be a see community and one that can pride itself on having square(a) knowledge of nations we interact with the most. We are only a celebrateed country insomuch as other countries respect us, but we are currently looked upon unfavorably in the world market. Americas main competitors and closest partners in the world are very committed to education with liberal arts ba sed curriculums- if we expect to be a competitor in the world market, it would be in our best interest to implement a stronger liberal arts education system. Liberal arts education would give people the knowledge necessary to understand the foundation of America and our position as a nation relative to other countries. In addition, liberal arts education would give us a better understanding of the global political issues America faces because we would have knowledge of global problems and how these problems evolved.One of the main tenets the founding fathers utilise in America was the separation of church and state the fact that ghostly set and principles are gaining importance in political grandiloquence is uneven with this basic American democratic tenet. The anti-intellectualism front end caters to folksy type Americans who are generally committed to tradition and faith. This integration of religion into American politics is aided by the anti-rationalism component of anti-i ntellectualism which is characterized by relying on faith quite than rational ideas to formulate the best political infra organise for society. This relegates us to the level of animals our rational faculty is something that constitutes us as humans, so it seems odd that we would want to denounce such a faculty. America is a secular nation, and as a result, religion should not have a abode in the political sphere nor in the realm of education. This anti-intellectualism movement favors faith as a result, evolution theories are considered controversial, and creation theories find a place for themselves in the US education system. Schools are supplementing textbooks with creation theories as an alternate(a) to evolution. This contradicts the basic tenet of the separation of church and state and the secularism of America. Creation theories should not have a place in our nations public schools, and implementing such values in education steers young minds away from the basic principles of America. In addition, the anti-intellectualism movement has managed to bring Barack Obamas religious affiliation to the forefront of our political discourse. This should be a non-issue- America is a secular nation and therefore, politicians religious affiliations should be of no consequence to our political forums. Liberal arts education would teach people about the basic tenets of America and it would reaffirm the history and philosophical reasons shag the separation of church and state and why it is so vital to this country. As a result, commitments to faith would not enter the political realm because citizens would understand that they have no place in American politics.Lastly, there needs to be more regulation on political pundits and demagoguery in American politics. The ease with which political pundits can spew political rhetoric and gain a respectable following is an indication of the anti-intellectualism problem we are facing in America. Political pundits in mainstream media have no substantial ideas to propose- they are quick to complain about current presidents and politicians, yet they never really propose solutions they merely champion principles. However, principles are not full to carry a nation in the political arena- policies are necessary, and implementing policies requires intellectual people. In essence, politics are be by policies and policies are constituted by ideas as a result, ideas are fundamental to politics. Ideas are things which we experience to know through rational, intellectual thought- we have to toy with ideas from the past and ideas for the future in order to come up with creative, effective political policies. Having a broad scope of knowledge makes coming up with new, creative ideas easier. If people are educated in the liberal arts, they will have this broad scope of knowledge which will help them come up with new and improved political ideas. Anti-intellectualism seems to contradict what politics really are- one moldiness engage in intellectual discourse in order to touch effective political policies.The political pundits and politicians most involved in the anti-intellectualism movement often cite the founding fathers and the constitution in order to erect their political rhetoric this has implicit contradictions. This is because America was founded by intellectuals- the leaders were the intellectuals (Hofstadter, 145). If the invention of the founding fathers at the inception of America was to place intellectuals at the helm, anti-intellectualism seems perverse to their intentions. Glenn Beck is a perfect example of a political pundit and a demagogue. He plays the side of the common people, yet he makes millions of dollars a socio-economic class for his talk show- he is not a common person. The trend we are seeing in America is the attainment of good jobs via bachelors degrees and more deep the move towards advanced degrees for any hopes of advancement. Yet someone like Glenn Beck, who is not university educated, has a very powerful, high-paying job engaging in controversial political discourse citing religion and the founding fathers. bulk idolize Glenn Beck and obtain their political ideas from him, and while he is not university-educated and is making millions of dollars a year, those who champion him the most have to make it in this world via their merit. Furthermore, Glenn Beck is skewing what is fundamental to America- one of his spicy topics, religion, is NOT fundamental to America- the separation of church and state is fundamental to America. The only thing we have as citizens to represent ourselves and our ideas is our vote it should be the most informed, intellectual, reliable vote possible. It is critical that we feel confident in our throw education and in our witness intellectual capacities and not rely on someone else to tell us what is important. The demagoguery that people such as Glenn Beck participate in would be a non-issue if people were liberal arts educated. This is because the false fears that Glenn Beck incites in people would collapse if people had their own knowledge of current issues and the liberal arts backgrounds which would enable them to think for themselves. People fail to realize the absurdity behind his rhetoric because of their lack of education.Anti-intellectualism will eventually lead to the destruction of the American democratic state and the ideals to which land is committed. The anti-intellectualism movement needs to be destroyed, otherwise our weak political structure will continue to fail, and America will continue to endure the wild reputation it has gained in the world market. It is most likely no parity that the peak of the political anti-intellectualism movement is at a time in which we have an abundance of political policy crises. We will gain respect as a country and as a competitor in the world if we rid ourselves of this anti-intellectualism movement. Liberal arts education can re cover our problem by giving citizens a broad scope of knowledge which would allow us to make informed and thoughtful political decisions rather than relying on the ill-advised rhetoric spouted by anti-intellectuals. Liberal arts education would also afford us the knowledge of what basic tenets shape the American political infrastructure.