Without Borders Maybe, But Not Without Elitism

Alex McDonald (the president of “Engineers Without Borders” at WSU, an organization whose goal is to "improve quality of life through sustainable, environmental, and economically sound engineering projects, all the while developing an internationally responsible student body") wrote in today’s Daily Evergreen:

Of all the many misrepresentations made about PARD and other opponents of a Wal-Mart in Pullman, surely the one that is farthest off base is the ridiculous claim that Wal-Mart’s opponents are “elitists.”

I am the furthest thing from elite. I ride a used $40 bike everywhere I go in Pullman.

McDonald then goes on to spout the tiresome party line about Wal-Mart being run by millionaires who get rich off the backs of their employees blah blah blah.

I’ve got news for Alex. The most ridiculous misrepresentation about intellectual elitism is that it has anything to do with money. Just the opposite. This 2001 column from Gregory J. Hand completely nails those like McDonald:

Intellectual snobs have no money, or if they do, it is not something with which they use as a means of being snobby. In fact, intellectual snobs are often socialists or communists. This is shown by what they tend to support, which oftentimes necessitates despising money or at least pretending to do so, even if they, or their parents who are sometimes paying for the lifestyle, have a lot of it.

Indeed, it could be successfully argued that the distinguishing characteristic of an intellectual snob is an embracement of such 'progressive' causes and specific remedies to cure them that habitually requires an end to capitalism and the American way of life. Look at how leftist politicians, environmentalists, peaceniks, feminists, gay activists, homeless and animal rights advocates, and on and on, condescendingly sneer at anyone not wholeheartedly embracing their various agendas. If you cannot see their vision for a better global society, then you deserve the disdain that you get.

Where do these people come from? Visit a college campus today and see what is going on there (not most of the professors, who tend to be culture snobs, to be discussed next.) No, the faux intellectual snobs, while including some professors and graduate students, are the teenage and early twenty something undergraduate students. These are the ones who are so brilliant as to be enlightened (indoctrinated) by the liberal orthodoxy taught at most schools today, but ironically not intelligent enough to realize that with all these rights that are demanded come corresponding responsibilities.

To answer the question, yes, they are; and they are because of this supposed superior intellect that has given them an enlightenment that most dolts like you and I don't have, protesting for a variety of inane causes (Free Mumia! Save the suckerfish! Stop global warming!). It is unfortunate, but their grasp of the issues, despite their strenuous arguments to the contrary, is rudimentary at best. They have no realistic idea, beyond their utopian pipe dreams, of the ramifications of the policies that they advocate. It is difficult to rationalize with them, because they immediately snobbishly dismiss any opposing arguments as inferior ones coming from intellectually substandard people.

Clearly Mr. McDonald, a JUNIOR in Mechanical Engineering, has fully consumed the Kool-Aid offered by WSU brahmins such as TV Reed and Chuck Pezeshki (a Mechancial Engineering prof) and now considers himself an expert on economics, international trade, wages, prices, and labor relations. He talks about “they can decide for themselves where to shop” and yet by supporting PARD, he is taking away OUR right to decide where WE want to shop.

For examples of indoctrination, consider this article about EWB in the January 7, 2005 edition of WSU Today:

Consumer attitudes must change to achieve true sustainability, Taylor [assistant professor in the School for Architecture and Construction Management], said. “Where I’m from, the University of Oregon, nobody uses disposable plastic or Styrofoam,” he said. “And in Europe, for example, they don’t say, ‘paper or plastic?’ They say, ‘bring your own bags.’ We need to completely rethink the way we use things.”

Franz [associate professor in the Environmental Science and Regional Planning Program]said the future of sustainability lies in supporting businesses and industries that adopt the principles of conserving, reusing and restoring natural resources. The European Union has adopted a “green certification system” for identifying such goods and services, and the United States should follow suit, he said.

Alex, not only are the PARDners elitist, so are you. But next year, you and your $40 bike will leave Pullman and head back to Seattle, so who cares?

P.S. Here's how Hand describes cultural snobs, such as professors. It's too funny (and accurate) not to mention:

The most rapidly rising class of snobs are the cultural/society snobs. These are people who go to symphonies, operas, wine tastings, foreign films, coffee houses and various other stylish venues not because they necessarily enjoy it, but because they like to be seen at such events, and they enjoy bragging about going to those who did not attend. On the flip side they also get pained looks on their faces when discussing amusement parks, NASCAR, public beaches, Wal-mart, chain restaurants and any other place where Grubman's 'white trash' might be hanging out. How déclassé.

They tend to congregate either in San Francisco or LA on the West Coast or New York, DC or Boston on the East Coast, as anywhere not attached to an ocean is 'flyover country.' They love the words 'diversity' and 'culture,' and often praise both lovingly just because it makes them look more sophisticated to be discussing such things.

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