[Marxism] 'Tenured radical' tries to revive professors group

[Mark Lause]

What's being neglected here is that this thread began with a
discussion of conditions in academic teaching.  We've periodically had
good articles posted about the terrible working conditions and
pathetic pay accorded the most lowly workers in academe.

And, in response, someone asks why the workers would choose to do such a job.

If we were discussing any other sort of labor--whether fast food or
black economy scavenger or even criminal activity--can we really
imagine anyone asking, "Why are these stupid lazy people choosing to
do such-and-such?"  The question would be seen as outrageous and
implicitly reactionary.  And nobody among Marxists would hesitate to
say so.  Academe, however, is an exception.

The most plausible explanation for this seems to be that the
anti-intellectualism of the wider American society permeates the Left
sufficiently to saturate thoroughly any attempt to discuss the
problems of intellectual labor.

ML

PS: This is precisely why I resisted the earlier temptation to respond
to the excellent clippings Louis has posted periodically on adjunct
labor and the state of the university.