by: Sabelosethu Mzizi Class of 2011
Whenever Politics and Capitalism mix the end result is most likely evil. I'm not anti-politics or anti-capitalism but I'm anti humans with bad intentions staying in power (politics) and using that power and resources to undermine others in order to increase their bank accounts parking garage (capitalism). The only way that Capitalism and Politics could ever work for the majority instead of the minority (upper class) is for a spirit of compassion, empathy and true leadership to reign among those that we have entrusted with power and our wealth.
I can't believe my Birthday money and Christmas money will be going to Mark Yudof and his cronies. It's as if we're paying taxes to the University of California board of regents.
May I remind everyone characteristics of true and sound leadership? Okay let's go:
1. Nelson Mandela: Who fought against Apartheid (discrimination of black people and non-whites in South Africa). Nelson Mandela believed in the cause so much that he spent 27 years in prison. A leader is willing to sacrifice so that his constituents can be led.
2. Alexander the Great: Not only did he conquer the known world, but Alexander was a remarkable leader because he actually fought along his soldiers. He didn't command from the mountain tops and hills but was involved in the very present danger that his army was exposed to on a daily basis. How many Chancellors and UC Regents are willing to walk in our shoes or understand the financial challenges we face?
3. Martin Luther King: Martin Luther King was a great leader who used his voice to represent the voiceless minorities of the United States. Despite threats on his life and many other dangers, he continued to voice the calls to Justice and Equality! How are our voices and concerns being represented? Where is the justice and equality when we are being forced out of college and our teachers are being told to take days away from educating us and meanwhile the salaries of the UC Regents is way above 6 figures??
There are many more leaders that I could have chose who showed true leadership which is the spirit of servant-hood. Leaders should shepherd their flocks and do all to protect them. Who in the state of California is protecting our interests? Just like the early colonies of this nation we are being taxed without representation. If you recall this was the greatest cause for the Revolutionary war.
If we truly are in a budget crisis then let's suffer together. Are we not a family? Does not even our own Chancellor claim to have immense "pride" in the UC and even more so loves UCR? Then let him also take pride in suffering along with his UC family. Let Mark Yudof, the UC president, decrease his paycheck by 32% for the next coming quarter and 40+ % for the coming school year. Let his decreases reflect our increases, let those who have voted for our increase reflect their sympathies through decreases in their own paychecks. ONLY then will we know that we are in a crisis that cannot be prevented. Do any of them care to suffer with us? NO, never and they never will.
The UC regents might have worked hard to earn those positions but students, faculty and staff have also worked hard and sacrificed much to be this and many other institutions.
I have to stop and wonder: whos interests are they truly representing? If it's not the students then who? Education is power, knowledge is the realization of my dreams. Why am I being told to become weak and stop dreaming? They tell us to dream big yet they vote into legislation the realization of our dreams.
This is what happens when an institution of education is run by Business people not Educators. Educators would place student learning and affordability as the top most goal. Business people would be thinking about money all the time. Capitalism without Ethics is the precursor to sure destruction. History tells us time and time again. The rich get richer and the poorer get poorer.
It's sad that my Birthday money will be going to Mark Yudof. It's sad that my Christmas money will go to support this hoax that the UC does not have any money of its own.
STAFF and Students alike know that the situation can be resolved without tuition going up. But being good students of Business, the UC Regents have weighed that it would be easier for them if the students pay the rest, while the UC system continues to withhold Billions of dollars in savings and investments. What has happened to California which less than a decade ago was the 5th largest economy in the world?
It's unfortunate that you misunderstand the ideas behind Capitalism - the most free, liberty minded economic system ever created.
ReplyDeleteCapitalisms' most basic assumption is that any person may work and exchange goods or services to the best of their ability, and to the extent that they wish. Is that what you call evil? You're confusing abuse of power with Capitalism, something far too many people equate incorrectly. Capitalism and money represent everything that is GOOD with man. Money is the result of man's mind and his achievements. It is Altruism and anything for "the collective good of society" that are truly evil.
The lack of money in the state of California is what has lead to the UC's current economic struggles. Frivolous, unnecessary spending and public-minded handouts have reduced California's balance sheet to pieces of scrap. It's ironic that many of the same people who would would vote for things like a 1 trillion dollar health care bill (taking money out of YOUR pocket) would also complain about regents increasing fees to schools.
Additionally, remember this: education is not a right, it's a privilege. It's a good offered to you for a PRICE. It's the same as a haircut, groceries, healthcare, the apartment you pay for, and your utilities. The purveyors of this service hold it as their most basic right to charge as they please. Their business is going southward, and they must compensate by charging more - deal with it. If you demand that they provide THEIR service for less money, maybe you should check your premises and ask who the real looter is.
If you are the open minded, educated person you undoubtedly claim to be, you will have no problem reading some material I'm going to provide you below. It's by Ayn Rand, a controversial author/philosopher you've maybe heard of. Her philosophy of Objectivism (if you take the time to actually read much of the material) will show you the error or your thinking.
http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=1826
http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_advessays