When I started this a couple of weeks ago, I didn't quite realize how much care and feeding an interactive blog would need. I read voraciously, and follow a huge number of news and political websites, so the information that would be fun and interesting to discuss far surpasses my ability to post and comment. As school starts (soon), I still think this will be a fun way to interact and hopefully improve classroom performance by increasing exposure to economic and governmental thinking. I know there are more of you reading than have posted, and I would encourage you to comment and agree, disagree, question, and think "out loud". A lot of times I'm posting things to try to provoke thinking or discussion - in law school, all my classes used the Socratic method, so we learned by being questioned, not by being lectured to. I guess I'd like this to be like that. If you run across something that you would like to see discussed, send me a link and I'll put it up, maybe with or without comment. My opinions are just like everyone else's and not any more valuable, but if there is something you want me to comment on, let me know. I love to learn new things, so if there is something you don't understand, bring it to my attention and I'll try to help figure it out.
I know it's a busy time as summer ends, many of you are packing for college, others are putting off thinking for these last few days of summer, but I really would like some thoughts on whether this is a worthwhile thing for me to be spending my time on. Thanks.
Posts
Impeach President Trump, again
3 years ago
One thing I would like to see is some left prospectives and articles. The only time I get to see any of that is in the comments, and that is only produced by Jay, who I'm not sure is actually in line with traditional left views. So I'd like to see their arguments so I can find ways to argue against them instead of just agreeing with the stuff you normally post.
ReplyDeleteI had an Israeli Professor in college who changed the way I experienced the classroom. He was not used to American Style Lectures and thought it odd not to have the students heavily involved in the discussion. As a result, the floor was always open for you to inject your educated or curious opinion, or your unedujcated or just plain rude opinion. The thing was we learned best by discussing as a group, having our views questioned, having to defend our views or defeat one you disagree with. Thought provocation was a main goal. If you know me, you know I love to talk, so this class was especially wonderful for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your intention Dr. Balthrop. I encourage you to keep this up. Let me know if there is anyway I can help.
Corwin, it's good to seek out views that differ from your own. It helps you understand your own views better as well as those of would-be opponents in the arena of ideas.
ReplyDeletecorwin:
ReplyDeleteWell for the most part I believe in the free markets ability to govern. Really. No joke. It's the fact the it can get out of control.
I know I've produced some very extremst opinions theses few weeks, but these comments have given me a chance to be mire introspective.
Of course communism wouldn't work: it's like giving Serebus one bowl of dog food, he wouldn't share.
And, yes, of course, I am very altruistic, and I feel for my fellow man. that falls in line with supporting single payer healthcare, which is directed towards low class minorities.
Balthrop, there's a problem with what you're trying to do.
ReplyDelete1. You are posting on a controversial topic.
2. You are expecting us to debate over it/provide opinions.
3. You are expecting us to do it in the comment section of a blog.
I understand your intentions, I really do. The problem is that blog comments are FAR less than the ideal place to debate economics. You can spend 10 minutes writing a fantastic argument with facts and statistics, and when you post it, realize that someone before you already has.
If you want to go to Starbucks or Pizza Garden with a bunch of people, I would be MORE than happy to join. Hell, I think we should do that anyways.
Jordan, what you describe is similar to a law school experience, where you would be called on in class and asked to take a certain position. Through questioning, your position would be tested and refined. Then when you thought you were through, you would be asked to take the opposite position, in effect tearing down every argument you had just developed. It was a powerful educational and intellectual exercise, and I was fortunate to be put to the test by some of the best: Richard Epstein, Richard Posner, Bernard Meltzer (a Nuremburg prosecutor), Edward Levi (a US Attorney General), Cass Sunstein (now serving in the White House), Geoffrey Stone, and on and on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input and comments. They add a great deal.
Christian, I'm limited by the constraints of time and space. When an argument broke out in Facebook, the limitations of posting there made me crazy. We've been trying for the past year to incorporate blogging and Wikis in the HEB classroom, and I'm using this venue because it's accessible to former students and others, not just currently enrolled students. I think that adds a great deal.
ReplyDeletePosting on non-controversial topics = boring and pointless. I'm not "expecting" anyone to post. I think the comment section of a blog provides a suitable environment for discussion - you don't. Oh well. Starbucks and Pizza Garden need to wait until I can clone myself. I also think the written aspect allows people to sharpen their thinking a bit more than off-the-cuff verbal responses.
i think this blog is great. it's nice to keep up with current events in the news and then have somewhere to have an educated discussion. I can't really think of any ways to improve it though
ReplyDeleteThen I say we have an economics debate at your house.
ReplyDelete@Christian: seconded!
ReplyDeleteHey, Corwin, you forgot about me...but I'm sporadic. I'm not the traditional left for the most part, although I align myself with them voting-wise because I am realistic enough to know that my goals aren't workable in our current political climate.
ReplyDeleteI like the blog, and I'm sorry that I sometimes comment and then abruptly drop - time and attention span don't often allow for a real debate. I may disagree with you on most, but it's a good forum. (I also have to admit that I'm pretty curious as to how many of the commenters are people I knew.)
I've been following since it's inception - I think it's great - keep it up if you can - however, as you can tell - it will certainly take up all the time you can give it - but if you tune in this year's students as well, I think it will be worth it to tap new varied venues and sources of opinion and get thoughtful discussion going on outside of the classroom
ReplyDelete