In my new book and prior columns I have described a “radical chic” in academia, faculty who thrill audiences with extremist rhetoric and calls for radical reforms, even revolution. The latest example comes from Arizona State University where professors laid out their dystopian vision of America, a vision that apparently can be avoided by “dismantl[ing] capitalism” and “elect[ing] a female president.”
At the outset, it is important to note two things. First, the program covered by the conservative site College Fix was a small event. Second, these faculty members have every right to espouse these views and it is good for students to have a wide variety of viewpoints on campus.
My objection in the past has not been the presence of far left faculty on campuses but the purging of conservative, moderate, and libertarian faculty.
It is also important to address what are becoming common and extreme arguments on our campuses, including a growing anticapitalist movement.
The event titled “Jenny Irish’s HATCH: A Speculative Future for Reproductive Rights” was held both in person and via Zoom. Jenny Irish, an ASU English professor, was joined by Angela Lober, director of the Academy of Lactation Programs at ASU’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.
Lober, who runs major programs at the school, offered some of the most extreme viewpoints, including the assertion that “the United States hates women and everything the female body does.”
It was a remarkable claim for a nation that has been a leader in the world in women’s rights for over a century and has long had major female leaders from the Vice President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives to various cabinet members.
Not to be outdone, Irish expressed her fear that the United States could see “forced breeding camps” and “cannibalism.” She told the students and faculty that “so much of our reality points toward those futures.” She was less clear on what specifically is pointing to that future other than the Supreme Court’s decision to leave abortion to the states.
Lober was, however, clear about the solution in calling for the audience to help “dismantle capitalism” and “elect a female president.”
The event was co-hosted by ASU Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics, which hosts events that aim to design “a future keyed to human flourishing.”
Putting the hyperbolic rhetoric to the side, the anti-capitalist calls have become ubiquitous on campuses. Socialism has become a rallying cry with polls showing that young people have a more positive view of socialism than capitalism.
There is an interesting dynamic to the push for socialism in the United States. Advocates may have a harder time convincing new migrants and citizens who fled socialist countries like Venezuela.
The draw of a “land of opportunity” has been due to not just our laws but also our economic system. The ability to sustain that growth (or support the existing social welfare systems) depends on a competitive economic system.
The irony is found in comments like those of Fidel Castro who declared that “my idea, as the whole world knows, is that the capitalist system now doesn’t work either for the United States or the world, driving it from crisis to crisis, which are each time more serious.” Cuba was (and continues to be decades later) an utter economic basket case without either liberty or prosperity.
Hugo Chavez made the same claim before driving his country into an economic tailspin.
As a student at the University of Chicago, I was fortunate enough to attend lectures by Milton Friedman and, despite being a liberal, I was convinced that there was a connection between capitalism and individual liberty. There are liberty-enhancing economic systems and those that are liberty-reducing. The freedom of economic choice in a capitalist system has historically reinforced individual liberty in my view.
The ASU event captures a rising call for dismantling an economic system that helped drive industrial innovation and massive wealth creation. It has also left great wealth disparities. We have sought to address poverty with social programs that offer greater opportunity for those who have not been able to escape cycles of poverty. We have much work to be done. However, the anti-capitalist movement often offers few specifics on the alternatives, as at the ASU event.
This is a debate that should be welcomed but not in this type of one-sided, jingoistic presentation. Imagine how much more substantive this panel would have been with an alternative viewpoint. Let’s have a discussion on the merits of capitalism and the record of alternative systems. That would offer educational and not merely emotive benefits to our academic community.
Jonathan Turley is a Fox News Media contributor and the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He is the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage” (Simon & Schuster, June 18, 2024).
All I CAN SAY IS wake UP AMERICA and God help us all!
…And if we’re going to elect a female president, let’s wait until 2028, and elect a Nikki Haley, NOT a Kamala Harris!
I agree! I was hoping Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis would get the nomination, but RNC pushed Donald Trump, so I’ll vote for him.
What can I say? The Leftists in our country have gone full-blown radically BONKERS! “The United States Hates Women?” What a load of something that should be flushed down the toilet! Women now outnumber men, or at least equal them, in medical schools; there are more women in Congress, in greater numbers among Democrats than Republicans (& it’s the Democrats that are going bat-crazy); more women executives, et al. Is the whole world going Nuts?! Capitalism has led to the most improved standard of living in much of our world. Socialism, not so much, except for the elites.
“Lober was, however, clear about the solution in calling for the audience to help “dismantle capitalism” and “elect a female president.”
In 2018 Democrats shutdown the government and stopped Trump from getting $5 Billion to build the wall. This year New York City is spending $10 Billion to house illegals.
That’s in just one city in one year. Y’all some kind of special stupid.
* that’s not surprising. ..
The Left alleges that the poverty in socialist countries such as Cuba and Venezuela is caused by U.S. embargoes and sanctions.
That’s like the eternal victim who at age 60, living in abject poverty, whines: I’d be rich, if only my parents hadn’t cut me off when I was 18.
I gather the Left doesn’t grasp that such an argument is an indictment of socialism: that socialist economies cannot survive without the productive support of free market economies.
* you’ll possibly find mixed economies…
Evidence show the natural economy shakes out at monarchy whether that is kings and queens or merchant Barrons the talented, intelligent will move to the top and an economy will have government or political intervention for reasons of commerce in quality of goods and services, availability to all classes, weights and measures and other interventions.
The shake out is some form of stratification. The bulging middle class and ever growing underclass is a quandary I suppose.
Innovation disruption is digital now causing massive problems in culture clashes. Perhaps it’s better when nations don’t really know what’s going on in Brazil or another 3rd world.
There’s a horrible mess currently beginning with Y2K and twin towers. The islamic infiltration of the USA is undesirable making demands of this nation’s political and economic systems. The demonstrators in colleges are better just thrown out. Twin towers is sufficient and personally I don’t care if a few good moslems leave, too.
Professor Turley will write column after column pointing out the anti-American anti-freedom views and policies of the progressive party. Yet even he will admit, he is a Democrat party member and voter and come November he will vote for that same party in support of their implementing those views via policy nationwide. I’ve never understood the disconnect.
Hey genius, pls explain to the rest of us just how you know the future? REALLY? And you know how Prof. Turley will vote in November?
Y’all must be some kind of psychotic. OOPs, I meant psychic. Hmmm.
The current problem results from a failed education system that does not teach what you advocate at least by high school.
The current problem is that the greatest nation in the history of man is being eaten by non-productive parasites that must have been simply a temporary repatriable workforce.
Unfortunately, that’s terminal.
This Cuban political refugee appreciates the 2nd amendment
To help “dismantle capitalism”
please send your $$$ donations to:
GCEC (Glass Ceilings Enable Cannibalism)
Forget Joe Biden, compel Kamala Harris to take a mental fitness cognitive test.
Is it true that George W. Bush is going to endorse Kamala Harris? Imagine a 20-year war based on nonexistent WMD in Iraq and Afghanistan, killing 7,000 patriotic Americans with nothing to show for it after Saudi Arabians attacked New York City and killed 3,000 Americans. Oh, yeah, take advice from that guy.
The war angle is probably why W would endorse her; being pro-war is a big part of what they have in common. They are both swamp creatures, agents of the blob that thrives on things like forever wars and keeping people sick.
G.W. is a pu$$y. Like daddy. he always has been. A decorated swamper POS!
W’s daddy just happens to havebeen a teenage war hero, but I am sure that this particular “Anonymous” is the guy with ba**s.
Perhaps it should be noted that women in the U.S. have way too much power. While they characteristically have certain natural advantages over men that counterbalance the physical strength and height advantages characteristic of men, they have managed to coopt most of the privileges of men. Most of the women in the U.S. are descendants of what might best be termed “Cinderella’s stepsisters.” Their desperate foremothers came to the American continent after being justifiably rejected in their homelands. Eventually, they used their gifts of persuasion to conquer the brave, self-sufficient men who had preceded them.
The way to regain balance is to bring in some competition. American men should seek better women from overseas and bring them into the U.S. Once the population of women significantly exceeds the population of men, the women will have no choice but to become more compatible with males. This phenomenon has been observed in other nations and other times. Those of us, including Donald Trump, who have been wise enough to understand this phenomenon, are enjoying the advantages that result.
The Founders’ general voter qualifications ratified by state legislatures—male, European, 21, 50 lbs. Sterling/50 acres—would do nicely.
Anon: Women as descendants of “Cinderella’s stepsisters”? You sound like a disgruntled male who can’t get a date. But take heart. I’m sure you will find a compatible doormat.
Too bad; you’re wrong! I’ve been married happily for 50 years to beautiful women (the first sadly passed from cancer) from overseas. I had enough experience with misdirected American women before settling on real women from across the pond. I know of no women who can be characterized as doormats. I just know women who can compete with and surpass the hags we have here. Every American male worth his salt should be far more discriminating in choosing his mate. Most men have American women rubbed into their faces and have no idea what they’re missing!
* may I say, I’m glad the American “hags” have the opportunity to make their own way in life, to hold jobs and access to education, and can avoid for a lifetime brutes such as you. Hooray for the hags!
But I will be glad when we can get them out of the taxpayers’ pockets. I’m not in the least interested in financially supporting women who wish to have nothing productive to do with males.
Oh, and sorry to double dip, but this is not ‘radical chic’, it’s who our modern dems are and have been for some time. Shallow, privileged, vapid, and an awful lot of the time, whiter than mayonnaise. Even if it were that simple, it is behavior that is pathetic beyond belief in grown-a** adults. That is not an excuse, Professor, and the actions of these people over time are already going to take generations to fix. If we continue down this path to Hades, we might just be done altogether.
Why, oh why, is it so hard for ‘classical’ liberals to speak about these matters with brutal honesty? The time for pu**y footing left us about 20 years ago. None of you cared then, couldn’t be bothered to listen or pay attention, or be criticized, and that is a huge part of the reason we are where we are. We can’t change the past, so find your spines and do the right thing *now*.
And, how many males are brave enough and smart enough to start a new nation (as in Rock Pig’s Word from Future [on Amazon Books]) that will take the freedom torch from the dying U.S. and become the greatest nation in the world?
“’The United States Hates Women’: ASU Event Offers Dystopian, Anti-Capitalist Vision of America”
– Professor Turley
_____________________
In fact, women hate women.
God and nature made women the perpetuators of the species.
God and nature assigned women a function or duty.
Men did not effect that as malice prepense, penalty, or punishment.
Women don’t hate men.
Women hate pregnancy, childbirth, and the long-term nurturing of the young.
Women prefer the role of men.
The “hate” of women is terminal for the species; the American fertility rate is in a “death spiral.”
Men have allowed themselves to be emasculated and have lost all sense of station, “assignment,” duty, and resolve.
The ascendance of the hysteria and incoherence of women must signify the End.
AI has arrived just in time to take control.
AI has no need for homo sapiens sapiens.
From Lighteredknot:
Naaawa You need to separate hate and Love Love be like in that Old Marty Robbins song Don’t Worry bout me; says; Love can’t be explained, can’t be controlled, one day it’s warm, next day it’s cold. On the other hand hate is identified to the feelings that are exhibited by Dems,and RINOs feel about DT.
Bingo, George!
* Oh that sounds nice. American women are free from the shackles of marriage to alcoholic wife beating brutes while begging for a bowl of rice. You’re such a prize, George, I’m certain.
It’s division of labor once upon a time. Men toiled by the sweat of their brow and women prepared food so he could do it again the next day for herself and for him.
Lower and Irish clearly live in fear.
* Lober
Neither Capitalism nor Socialism are moral, that is not the point. These represent different economic organizing principles. The organizing principle for Capitalism is that of voluntary cooperation and voluntary exchange. In contrast, the organizing principle for Socialism is not voluntary but that the economy is directed from the center, that is the government tells people what to do or limits what the people can purchase.
Given that one proclaimed watch word from the 2024 DNC is “freedom”, one might think that logically those aligned with the Harris-Walz campaign would be strongly attuned to the Capitalist principles of organization. Then again one might be mistaken that logic has much to do the political thought of the supporters of the Harris-Walz campaign.
“Given that one proclaimed watch word from the 2024 DNC is “freedom”, one might think that logically those aligned with the Harris-Walz campaign would be strongly attuned to the Capitalist principles of organization.”
– Arnold Nordsieck
______________________
Do the forcibly imposed requirements below replicate “freedom” in any way?
The following are all representative of communist dictatorship:
Admissions affirmative action, grade-inflation affirmative action, employment affirmative action, quotas, welfare, food stamps, minimum wage, rent control, social services, forced busing, public housing, utility subsidies, WIC, SNAP, TANF, HAMP, HARP, TARP, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Energy, Obamacare, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Social Security Supplemental Income, Medicare, Medicaid, “Fair Housing” laws, “Non-Discrimination” laws, etc., etc., etc.
Socialism is based on envy and theft. It sees the pie as fixed and seeks to alter how it is divided. Free market capitalism is based on voluntary exchange and thus requires people to be other-directed. It sees the pie as expanding through innovation and therefore there is no need to rob Peter to pay Paul.
* you’ve brought up two systems as 1. Capitalism 2. Free markets. For all you smart commentors is that domestic capitalism and free market globally giving the US such wonders as products without ingredient labels, sand in spices, herbs and spices inferiorly prepared as required by USDA and FDA for domestic production, rancid meats, salmonella riddled foods, and an absolute host of problems coming in from the emerging markets and without inspection?
The DANCO pharm of recent mifepristone and SCOTUS fame was smuggling mifepristone in from China and fined 750,000 dollars and proudly testified before SCOTUS. No one blinked.
Women of child bearing years are being encouraged to have children via media. Everyone’s pregnant and loving it but some human animals just won’t breed in captivity.
Perhaps it’s just the current state of affairs that just doesn’t yield to breeding. Yes, populations will die out either by genocide or non-breeding. Others will take their place and life will go on even if it’s hunt and gather , barter and trade.
What are you talking about? No doubt the classes offered at ASU shouldn’t be taught at all. Replace them with some trade skills.
* What is is a tragedy. A person could perish from the aesthetics.
Nations once had common principles. The USA no longer has common principles, values, morals and is shattered like a broken glass.
There’s innovative disruption with the digital age as information travels worldwide at the speed of light. The great net, the worldwide web has caught everyone unprepared.
It really is quite horrible. It probably won’t get any worse than a common 3rd world.
To put it more succinctly, socialism is the scheme pushed by parasites – people who during their lifetimes consume more than they produce. Parasites live off the producers – the people who produce more to sustain life than they consume. Parasites are constantly scheming to rob or otherwise get more from the producers. Caught in the middle are the severely handicapped – those who could be producers were they not so handicapped. The parasites get a lot of what the producers meant to give to the handicapped as a safety net.
The whole world would be better off without parasites. t’s time for a delousing!
^^^^ spastic booger
* socialism is built upon don’t let the citizens become wealthier than the government.
Socialism is theft by parasites from producers. Theft is immoral in virtually every religion. Substitute “covet” for “theft,” if you wish. One of the Ten Commandments has something to say about that. Forced socialism is immoral. Voluntaristic capitalism is not.
* Clearly Capitalism works better at delivering food and services to a population whether it’s Marjorie Merriweather Post or Sam Walton is irrelevant. It’s been proved.