Gary Palmer: Is college the cure for conservatism?

  A 2009 article by William Voegeli entitled “The Roots of Liberal Condescension” quoted “UD,” a blogger for Inside Higher Ed: “We need to encourage everyone to be in college for as many years as they possibly can, in the hope that somewhere along the line they might get some exposure to the world outside their town, and to moral ideas not exclusively derived from their parents’ religion. If they don’t get this in college, they’re not going to get it anywhere else.”

  “UD” seems to suggest the cure for a Bible-believing Christian and/or Constitution-quoting conservative is college. “UD” acknowledges the importance of college, not so much for preparing people to participate in our workforce and civic life but for the purpose of fundamental re-education, deprogramming and reprogramming. Thus, for liberals, college is not only about academics but also expanding their political base.