Tea Partiers: 75% college educated

[lgm270]

Wow, after we were told that  all those Tea Partiers were ignorant, racist uneducated, gun toting   rednecks, the LA Times reports that 75% of this overwhelmingly white demographic has a college degree! Also, they're relatively successful and affluent and not white trash losers like we were  previously told. 

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/24/opinion/la-oe-ellis25-2010feb25

[Questor]

It's OK to be an ignorant uneducated gun toting racist white trash redneck and have a college degree. It's a big tent. 

I observe that a lot of people come out of college dumber than when they went in. And this is not a snide remark. This is something I have seen many times. It damages their judgment and gives them bad reference information.

[lgm270]

It's OK to be an ignorant uneducated gun toting racist white trash redneck and have a college degree. It's a big tent.  

I observe that a lot of people come out of college dumber than when they went in. And this is not a snide remark. This is something I have seen many times. It damages their judgment and gives them bad reference information.

I meant no disrespect to people without college degrees.  Just thought the story was interesting because it flies in the face of the stereotype of conservative people as hostile to formal higher education.   I believe everyone deserves  courtesy and civility regardless of how far they went in school.  

P.S. George Washington was a high school drop out.  He had better things to do. When he was 17 he surveyed the Shennendoah Valley.  Later he led a fledging army against the British Empire and helped found the greatest country in history.

[highwayman]

what!!!!!!!!!!!! msnbc lied to me

[ms]

It's OK to be an ignorant uneducated gun toting racist white trash redneck and have a college degree. It's a big tent. 

I observe that a lot of people come out of college dumber than when they went in. And this is not a snide remark. This is something I have seen many times. It damages their judgment and gives them bad reference information.

There's one NRA member on this site that fits this description. 

[cwall]

Most people confuse education for wisdom.  They are totally unrelated.  Some of the most wise people I have ever known were not highly educated.  I think you gain wisdom from living in the real world.

Clayton

[Dee]

Wow, after we were told that  all those Tea Partiers were ignorant, racist uneducated, gun toting   rednecks, the LA Times reports that 75% of this overwhelmingly white demographic has a college degree! Also, they're relatively successful and affluent and not white trash losers like we were  previously told. 

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/24/opinion/la-oe-ellis25-2010feb25

My whole family attends the T-Parties when their in our area, and I don't believe for a minute that 75% of the attendees are college educated folks, with a college degree. I don't know how or where they came up with that stat, but I deem it BS. I am glad for the T Party movement, and hope it grows, and am confident that some are college educated, but 75%.
Also like someone here has already said: A college education does not mean, "wisdom and common sense". I have seen and dealt with many, that were educated far beyond their intelligence.

[magooch]

There is also a difference between being educated and brainwashed.  It is possible to gain a college education without being brainwashed, but depending on where it is obtained, it might not be so easy.

 The same goes for being informed.  Just try to get the facts from--as mentioned--MSNBC, or for that matter, even some of the news/talk programs on Fox have a particular bent, but I still think they at least try to present all sides.

[Empty Quiver]

I have a degree in Ag Science. I drive a truck for a living, my take home income more than doubled over my ag job. What you see isn't always what you are getting, I look like a truck driver for the most part, and can converse with truckers, shippers and managment without them knowing I am "educated". I love the looks from those who look down there nose at me when I use my big words. They just don't understand why I do what I do. They can't fathom why I have the conservative values I do, college education and labor to boot.

I was squarely in the left camp upon arrival at college, I voted for Jimmy Carter in 1980. (I just threw up a little, since he lost I don't feel as bad as I could). I went to one class that explained the world through both a liberal professor and a conservative professor. Each topic was addressed from both sides. About five weeks into this course the veil was torn back. Facts started to replace emotion. From that time forward I was a strict conservative. That one course did more to shape my life than the all the others combined.

Don't dismiss all college folks. Don't assume everyone with a sweat stained ballcap is an uneducated redneck (not that there is anything wrong with that)smiley thing winking. If I weren't working I would attend one of these rally's but since I'm not in the photo I am dismissed.

75% does seem like a lot, but I would not be supprised by a high percentage. You folks may be hanging around a lot of closet college grads. I don't try and throw a degree in peoples face, I know more than most that it only means you answered the test questions correctly. It does not prove you learned anything.

[Dee]

I have a degree in Ag Science. I drive a truck for a living, my take home income more than doubled over my ag job. What you see isn't always what you are getting, I look like a truck driver for the most part, and can converse with truckers, shippers and managment without them knowing I am "educated". I love the looks from those who look down there nose at me when I use my big words. They just don't understand why I do what I do. They can't fathom why I have the conservative values I do, college education and labor to boot.

I was squarely in the left camp upon arrival at college, I voted for Jimmy Carter in 1980. (I just threw up a little, since he lost I don't feel as bad as I could). I went to one class that explained the world through both a liberal professor and a conservative professor. Each topic was addressed from both sides. About five weeks into this course the veil was torn back. Facts started to replace emotion. From that time forward I was a strict conservative. That one course did more to shape my life than the all the others combined.

Don't dismiss all college folks. Don't assume everyone with a sweat stained ballcap is an uneducated redneck (not that there is anything wrong with that)smiley thing winking. If I weren't working I would attend one of these rally's but since I'm not in the photo I am dismissed.

75% does seem like a lot, but I would not be supprised by a high percentage. You folks may be hanging around a lot of closet college grads. I don't try and throw a degree in peoples face, I know more than most that it only means you answered the test questions correctly. It does not prove you learned anything.

Plus one on the never can tell. I was working on my Masters in Criminal Justice. I ended up starting my own trucking company for several years, and more than doubled my salary as a police officer for that time. I just don think that 75% of the tea party attendees and members of the movement hold college degrees, and I agree that a college education has nothing to do with common sense, and wisdom. It is information that can enhance their wisdom, and common sense, IF they had any to start with.

[Empty Quiver]

Dee, is it possible the media is starting to build something (t party) they will be able to tear down at the appropriate time. The truth behind the facts and figures they report mean nothing to these journalists, and I use that term loosely.

Witness our current leadership, climate change, Brittney Spears, Ron Paul, the list goes on forever. Build something up to the point it will make an impressive spectacle, when the time to destroy it comes. This tsunami was the best most recent example. What a dissapointment it must have been when the residents of Hi. didn't buy all the HYPE. Folks took there picnic to higher ground and lived as normal. I wonder how much shoe leather was worn off looking for someone, anyone, to act hysterical in front of a camera.

[Dee]

Ya know Empty Quiver, I gave up speculation on everything from Obama, to the lessor of two evils voter. I have came to conclusions and it takes the pressure off. I am 60, and this country is headed for hell on a bobsled, and there is nothing I can do about it. I pick my candidates according to moral and Constitutional issues and realize they probably won't win, but I did my duty by voting for the best man. The T-Party movement I support, but believe that come voting time many will vote Republican regardless of the candidates stance on morality and the Constitution just like they did when the voted McCain. The T-Party will either pass or fail. It just depends on if there are enough willing to follow the Constitution, rather than the "lessor of" voting habit.
What everyone does is going to happen regardless of what I think, so I am just sitting on the bobsled wishing I could drive, but knowing they won't let me, and knowing I have to ride the damn thing whether I like the driver or not.

[eye shot]

I would guess 99% of congress has a college degree, so whats the point? Is the LA Times trying to say that 75% of T-Party people are as dumb as congress?

[Dee]

I would guess 99% of congress has a college degree, so whats the point? Is the LA Times trying to say that 75% of T-Party people are as dumb as congress?

Now there is a valid point to ponder. Excellent!

[steve y]

Seems if the percentage is that high our liberal institutions aren't doing as good of a job as they think they are. I for one am the only one in my family that isn't college educated. I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up still don't know. Been a workin man for 30 years and have made a very good living for my family. I however did graduate from the school of hard knocks magna cum laude. Steve

[williamlayton]

I would suspect that locality of T-Partiers might have a lot to do with education levels. Cities might have more than, say, East Texas rural.
It is not suprising to me that many don't use their degree in the field of occupation they end up in.
A number of engineers end up in sales jobs.
I never used my degree but then, when I was about ready to degree out it was a little late to change.
Blessings

[gypsyman]

College is for kids that didn't learn about sex and drinking in high school. gypsyman

[williamlayton]

Wonder why I went to college then?
OH! That's right--- I wanted a PHD in sex and drinking.
Blessings

[cwall]

I have no idea of the breakdown of education levels within the Tea Party movement and it really does not matter.  I have a degree in Physics - so what.  I know plumbers and brick layers that earn more than I.  However, I think the most important statistic is the percentage of taxpayers associated with the Tea Party folks.  I venture to say that it is near 100%.  The only people who care how badly the government is out-of-control are the ones paying the bill.

cwall

[nomosendero]

College is for kids that didn't learn about sex and drinking in high school. gypsyman

I could have saved some money if I had known that, hmmm.  On second thought though, I believe if you do a little checking you would find alot more high school dropouts on METH than College Grads. Not because they are smarter, but because they cared enough about themselves to accomplish something. But College Grads aren't the only group that had the drive to do something, some just chose other fields at an early age.

[billy_56081]

I would imagine that 75% of all folks under 35 have at least some college education. Does this mean the tea parties have a large number of young members? If so that is a great thing.

[rex6666]

College is for kids that didn't learn about sex and drinking in high school. gypsyman

I could have saved some money if I had known that, hmmm.  On second thought though, I believe if you do a little checking you would find alot more high school dropouts on METH than College Grads. Not because they are smarter, but because they cared enough about themselves to accomplish something. But College Grads aren't the only group that had the drive to do something, some just chose other fields at an early age.

More college Grads on coke not because they care, just cause they make more money

Maybe it is like Jerry Clower said "some folks are educated beyond their Inteligence"

[Oldshooter]

I have no idea of the breakdown of education levels within the Tea Party movement and it really does not matter.  I have a degree in Physics - so what.  I know plumbers and brick layers that earn more than I.  However, I think the most important statistic is the percentage of taxpayers associated with the Tea Party folks.  I venture to say that it is near 100%.  The only people who care how badly the government is out-of-control are the ones paying the bill.

cwall

BEST POST YET! I agree 100%

[nomosendero]

College is for kids that didn't learn about sex and drinking in high school. gypsyman

I could have saved some money if I had known that, hmmm.  On second thought though, I believe if you do a little checking you would find alot more high school dropouts on METH than College Grads. Not because they are smarter, but because they cared enough about themselves to accomplish something. But College Grads aren't the only group that had the drive to do something, some just chose other fields at an early age.

More college Grads on coke not because they care, just cause they make more money

Maybe it is like Jerry Clower said "some folks are educated beyond their Inteligence"

Jerry did say that! 

But what I said earlier should be a no-brainer

[nomosendero]

I have no idea of the breakdown of education levels within the Tea Party movement and it really does not matter.  I have a degree in Physics - so what.  I know plumbers and brick layers that earn more than I.  However, I think the most important statistic is the percentage of taxpayers associated with the Tea Party folks.  I venture to say that it is near 100%.  The only people who care how badly the government is out-of-control are the ones paying the bill.

cwall

BEST POST YET! I agree 100%

+1

[Clodhopper]

I have no idea of the breakdown of education levels within the Tea Party movement and it really does not matter.  I have a degree in Physics - so what.  I know plumbers and brick layers that earn more than I.  However, I think the most important statistic is the percentage of taxpayers associated with the Tea Party folks.  I venture to say that it is near 100%.  The only people who care how badly the government is out-of-control are the ones paying the bill.

cwall

BEST POST YET! I agree 100%

+1

+2