Philosophy
On the heels of the Iowa caucus, let's ask about the requirements to be President of the United States. It is written into the second article of the Constitution that to be eligible for the position, one must be thirty five years old. Is this something we think ought to be maintained or is it groundless, anti-democratic age discrimination? If you are old enough to vote, shouldn't you be old enough to run? I'm not saying that there is a given twenty two year old I would vote for, but why limit that person's right to seek the office? Plato argued that we shouldn't even educate people until they reach forty, so offering such folks the most powerful position in the world may not be the best idea. Then again, the electorate would be able to decree with their ballots that the person was too green and not yet ready. Why shouldn't we have the option? Is the presidential age limit legitimate or illegitimate discrimination?
- Can You Really Own A Position?
I've been thinking about the use of the verb to own with respect to an intellectual view. When a student is being wishy-washy about a proposition he or she is arguing for and clearly believes, I'll tell the student to "own the position." ...
- The Sacred Right Of Complaint
With several elections going on today, it seems appropriate to bring out this one. I heard someone the other day utter the old chestnut "I vote because if you don't, you have no right to complain." It's a veritable cliche of American...
- Continuity Of Self
Today is my birthday and it is fun to look at all of the greetings on Facebook from folks I've known over the entire range of my life. Some who know me only as a graying department chair and others who knew me as a member of the red group in...
- Most Important Presidential Words
On Presidents' Day, let's think about what Presidents of the United States have said. Perhaps the most powerful part of the position is an informal power, the bully pulpit. When presidents speak, we listen. What are the most...
- Grammar Curmudeons
Had a student ask yesterday about grammatical pet peeves. His was "irregardless." My big three are: 1) "Quote" used for "quotation." Quote is a verb. You quote someone. What you write down is not a quote, but a quotation. ...
Philosophy
Presidential Age Limit
On the heels of the Iowa caucus, let's ask about the requirements to be President of the United States. It is written into the second article of the Constitution that to be eligible for the position, one must be thirty five years old. Is this something we think ought to be maintained or is it groundless, anti-democratic age discrimination? If you are old enough to vote, shouldn't you be old enough to run? I'm not saying that there is a given twenty two year old I would vote for, but why limit that person's right to seek the office? Plato argued that we shouldn't even educate people until they reach forty, so offering such folks the most powerful position in the world may not be the best idea. Then again, the electorate would be able to decree with their ballots that the person was too green and not yet ready. Why shouldn't we have the option? Is the presidential age limit legitimate or illegitimate discrimination?
- Can You Really Own A Position?
I've been thinking about the use of the verb to own with respect to an intellectual view. When a student is being wishy-washy about a proposition he or she is arguing for and clearly believes, I'll tell the student to "own the position." ...
- The Sacred Right Of Complaint
With several elections going on today, it seems appropriate to bring out this one. I heard someone the other day utter the old chestnut "I vote because if you don't, you have no right to complain." It's a veritable cliche of American...
- Continuity Of Self
Today is my birthday and it is fun to look at all of the greetings on Facebook from folks I've known over the entire range of my life. Some who know me only as a graying department chair and others who knew me as a member of the red group in...
- Most Important Presidential Words
On Presidents' Day, let's think about what Presidents of the United States have said. Perhaps the most powerful part of the position is an informal power, the bully pulpit. When presidents speak, we listen. What are the most...
- Grammar Curmudeons
Had a student ask yesterday about grammatical pet peeves. His was "irregardless." My big three are: 1) "Quote" used for "quotation." Quote is a verb. You quote someone. What you write down is not a quote, but a quotation. ...