The Intolerance Agenda, Microsoft Gives Richard Florida's Creative Class the Finger. ⇒
11 May 2005, early evening
"International-student applications to U.S. graduate schools dropped a whopping 90 percent in 2004, and one-third fewer international students applied to take the GRE." This link was found via Award Tour.
This is a post from my link log: If you click the title of this post you will be taken the web page I am discussing.
I am not sure what your feelings are on this, but corporations butting out of legislation is not a bad idea. Civil rights issues don’t need to be hijacked as badges (or feathers in the cap).
As for the gay rights issue, denying them equal rights is a violation of the constitution. So yes I am waiting for a Supreme Court case. Common perception is that they are Republican tools but they are smart and independent.
by Sunny on May 11 2005, 10:01 pm #
Companies shouldn’t butt into politics. But you can still be vocally opposed to a cause without having to enter the political arena. Also, It’s not like Microsoft is now going to sit on the sidelines whenever antitrust or patent laws are discussed in congress. The articles main points though aren’t about what Microsoft is up to, it’s about the culture of intolerance building in the US. I think he is spot on with respect to this.
by ramanan on May 12 2005, 2:30 pm #
beyond all of this, isn’t it crazy that you could be fired for being gay and have no legal protection for it? Isn’t this the 21st century?
I definitely think the author in question is on the right track. That grad school statistic, if correct, is utterly INSANE. Essentially, America has the resources to import the absolute best talent from around the entire world but are quickly losing that potential because of the socio-political climate.
by rooney on May 12 2005, 5:10 pm #
Somehow, I don’t think its an American problem. Cultural intolerance exists everywhere in various forms and shades.
As far as grad school students, considering that 90% of students in US grad schools are either Chinese or Indians, I would rather have them stay back and make a difference in Asia than move to the US.
And what is the harm in that? What is wrong with these students seeking a new destination such as Canada or Australia? There is an opportunity here. Its good that the US is not the only option.
As for the movement of this so called “creative class”, its nothing new. Cities, countries lose and gain their influence in cycles. An instance of this (well depicted in the Baroque Cycle) is the rise of capitalism in Europe. It started off in Italy but eventually blossomed in England. Cities such as Antwerp and Amsterdam emerged as financial capitals of the world. Well the people who were responsible for this were fleeing from religious persecution. Eventually they fled to the new world.
So yes the potential for the US to turn into 17th or 18th century Europe (now that I think, today’s Europe is no different) does exist. But its not happening, at least not yet. Where are all those people who were leaving the US after the election? I thought so too.
But what is happening that there is a balancing act that is going on around the world. Countries are competing with the US equally for human resources (or knowledge workers). And that can only be a good thing. You cannot complain that the US is too dominant and then cry foul when otherwise.
So what I see is that America has a new challenge. It has to rise out of this slump (eonomical, social, cultural). So yes if Santorum or Hilary get elected, we are screwed.
Apologies for the long-winded reply.
by Sunny on May 12 2005, 9:51 pm #