Scott Walker and the life of the mind

Walker’s ineffable brilliance makes him a mental giant among Republicans.

Hudathunkit?

Someone who spent almost four years in college but wound up a year short of the credits needed to graduate because he was more interested in student politics than in studying and dropped out with a 2.59 GPA (i.e., as a B-/C+ student) and who as a grown-up politician doesn’t count the search for truth as among the functions of a university, elects to “punt” when asked whether he believes in evolution by natural selection but later offers an incomprehensible mumble about the compatibility of science and faith.

Bonus surprise: this record of uninterrupted brilliance makes him a leading candidate for the Republican nomination for President.

 

Author: Mark Kleiman

Professor of Public Policy at the NYU Marron Institute for Urban Management and editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis. Teaches about the methods of policy analysis about drug abuse control and crime control policy, working out the implications of two principles: that swift and certain sanctions don't have to be severe to be effective, and that well-designed threats usually don't have to be carried out. Books: Drugs and Drug Policy: What Everyone Needs to Know (with Jonathan Caulkins and Angela Hawken) When Brute Force Fails: How to Have Less Crime and Less Punishment (Princeton, 2009; named one of the "books of the year" by The Economist Against Excess: Drug Policy for Results (Basic, 1993) Marijuana: Costs of Abuse, Costs of Control (Greenwood, 1989) UCLA Homepage Curriculum Vitae Contact: Markarkleiman-at-gmail.com

5 thoughts on “Scott Walker and the life of the mind”

  1. The question didn't mention natural selection, only evolution. Darwin wrote "The Origin of Species" for an audience that already knew evolution was a fact, and was arguing about the mechanism. Scott Walker hasn't caught up to 1858.

    1. So James, do you suppose a five-year sea cruise to exotic locations like the Galapagos Islands might do Walker some good?

    2. Scott Walker hasn't caught up to 1858

      Thereby reinforcing Mark's assertion about Walker being a leading candidate for the 2016 Republican nomination.

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