15 December 2011

The Factory of Bourgeois Ideology Production At Work

I took this picture last night at an Economics 103 (Introduction to Micro Economics) final exam at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

No where is it more clear to me than during a large lecture final exam how much our education system is designed to produce obedient and productive capitalist works.  People are expected to be faceless, and nameless, complete their assigned task and leave.  Any deviation from this will result in serious reprocussions, both from the overseers, as well as I would imagine discipline from the other faceless, nameless ones who are attempting to succeed within the system.

The goal is obviously different, a grade instead of a paycheck, but the mechanism certainly prepares the student for their future of being exploited and/or perpetuating exploitation of the working class. 

Regarding the teaching of micro economics by a bunch of Marxists:
This will be a future post, but I don't have an enormous problem with it.  If nothing else neoclassical theory is an important part of economic history.  My hope is that someday it will ONLY be taught as such.  For now, teaching it allows many who are attempting to subvert the theory to reproduce their labor power.  A contradiction certainly, but I can think of worse aspects of what the young Marxist scholar is asked to do on a day to day basis.

Finally, a shout out to Mark S.  The very serious gentleman patrolling the ranks in my photo.  Check out some of his writings here at The Cognitive Footprint. 

14 December 2011

Fun Fact

Sadam Hussien was given a key to the city of Detroit (In 1980)...
Not sure why I mention this today, sleep deprivation does odd things to the mind.

13 December 2011

Consumerism, Pizza and the Detroit Tigers.

Major League Baseball's winter meetings are concluded. 
What have my beloved Detroit Tigers done? 

They have signed Octavio Dotel....

That's right, not a damn thing.  Would someone please go buy some Little Caesar's Pizza

I personally can't stand the stuff, but Michael Ilitch's empire seems to be struggling.  At least one percent of the profit on that pizza will go to help the tigers (I think Ilitch actually stated something along that line back in the 80s, but I can't find the quote).

What good is capitalism if it can't even land the Tigers a decent #3 starting pitcher?