Harvard professor Steve Levitsky has spent decades studying democracies and how they fail. He's now raising alarm bells over what he sees as a slide toward autocracy under President Trump.
Their pressure seems to have helped Harvard President Alan Garber stand up to Trump
No: what helps Harvard stand up to Trump is that Harvard is loaded. The University of Bumfuck Nowhere will immediately cave in to Trump’s authoritarian nonsense to maintain their federal funding and their tax-exempt status. Harvard can afford to do without them.
In other words, I’m glad Harvard is resisting. But this is yet another example of rich-man-can-do.
I believe those with more resources have more options to resist; this has always been the case. However, they don’t have all of the means.
I don’t think doomerism like this does anything but demoralize. It’s better than them going along with the bullshit. It’s gotta start somewhere, and it’s going to start with those who have the resources to resist.
I think that it’s similar to the idea that anti-racism needs to start with white people.
White people have the social capital to stay safe while protesting—thus able to further the cause for longer—and the subjugation starts with white people so they have a responsibility to start the movement.
Rich people have the economic capital to stay safe while protesting—thus able to further the cause for longer—and the subjugation originates with rich people so they have a responsibility to start the movement.
Dude Harvard didn’t even stand up to defend their own president Claudine Gay when she needed their backing. They were dead silent during trumps first term when this same shit was going on. It’s not just the money. They will literally sit on their asses and say nothing unless they are pushed.
Weren’t other also billion dollar endowment colleges caving? Like Columbia University. I would think that would make Harvard an outlier here, unless we consider Harvard to have fuck you endowment money vs the others.
No: what helps Harvard stand up to Trump is that Harvard is loaded. The University of Bumfuck Nowhere will immediately cave in to Trump’s authoritarian nonsense to maintain their federal funding and their tax-exempt status. Harvard can afford to do without them.
In other words, I’m glad Harvard is resisting. But this is yet another example of rich-man-can-do.
Is the better option that rich man do nothing?
You’re not wrong that the money helps but someone also has to do the convincing part. They both help.
I think the statement you are responding to is not prescriptive, but that the situation needs to be described accurately.
Edit: your edit is an improvement, thanks.
I don’t believe “he helped Harvard stand up to Trump” is inaccurate. Yes, those with more resources can do more. Has this ever not been the case?
I agree. It’s just that resistance should be uplifting, and seeing that, once again, only the rich have the means to resist is depressing AF.
I believe those with more resources have more options to resist; this has always been the case. However, they don’t have all of the means.
I don’t think doomerism like this does anything but demoralize. It’s better than them going along with the bullshit. It’s gotta start somewhere, and it’s going to start with those who have the resources to resist.
I think that it’s similar to the idea that anti-racism needs to start with white people.
White people have the social capital to stay safe while protesting—thus able to further the cause for longer—and the subjugation starts with white people so they have a responsibility to start the movement.
Rich people have the economic capital to stay safe while protesting—thus able to further the cause for longer—and the subjugation originates with rich people so they have a responsibility to start the movement.
Dude Harvard didn’t even stand up to defend their own president Claudine Gay when she needed their backing. They were dead silent during trumps first term when this same shit was going on. It’s not just the money. They will literally sit on their asses and say nothing unless they are pushed.
Wasn’t Eastern Michigan one of the first universities to tell the DOJ to fuck off?
Weren’t other also billion dollar endowment colleges caving? Like Columbia University. I would think that would make Harvard an outlier here, unless we consider Harvard to have fuck you endowment money vs the others.