Academia, Profit-margins and why America has lost its edge . . .

Today I was thumbing through an issue of The Economist. I was immediately struck by the number of advertisements in this fine periodical, but especially struck by the number of European-based Academic fellowships offered.

Sadly, due to an increasing 'commericalization' of our society (everything from Hallmark greeting cards dictating which secular 'holiday' we should celebrate to even education becoming nothing but a 'meat market' . . .), higher education in the United States is over as we know it.

Here are some startling true to life snippets:

* One university (for-profit) that I know of actually is run by a C.E.O. (who ever heard of a "C.E.O." of a university???) who literally only has a BACHELOR's degree (and from some school like Illinois State . . .).

* Other "On-Line" universities (usually corporations that are 'for-profit') are literally only in existence to pad the pockets of so-called 'enrollment counselors' who in actuality are nothing other than slightly better paid telemarketers . . .

* With the advent of Internet curricula, one can literally enroll in these 'On-Line' courses, take out your Federal Student Loan and Pell Grant money and then proceed through an A.A., a B.A., an M.A. and even a Ph.D. all without ever even seeing a 'live' instructor, financial aid officer, dean, etc.

* One university (the one with the bachelor's degree C.E.O.) has as their chief academic officer a nurse who only has an Ed.D. Granted an Ed.D. is fine for the public school system (elementary school, middle school and high school), but to be the 'chief academic officer' at a university is utterly ridiculous

So, while the Euro continues to out-pace the dollar, while Latin America and Africa 'play catch-up' economically, our nation will continue to sink. Dumb, credit card debtors, and with phony On-Line degrees . . . WELCOME TO THE FUTURE U.S.A.

For a different voice, someone who wishes to uphold rigorous academic and professional standards, and someone who can LEAD America out of this quagmire, please be in contact (Rob King, M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D. ABD* at kuriosiesuschristos@abidinglifephoenix.com . . .)

I will offer the American people the very best of scholarship, fiscal responsibility, just wages for just work, and a call for economic justice for ALL hard-working Americans (not just slick telemarketers who lie to the American public!!!)

Love in Jesus Christ,
Rob King, Democrat