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Old 04-23-2012, 06:11   #3
Buffalobob
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Potomac River
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Quote:
There is also a natural political clash of cultures that is rarely spoken of, but exists nonetheless. Academics are almost invariably the product of liberal institutions and therefore tend to be liberal, while military officers tend to be conservatives -- the empirical evidence on that is indisputable. Both cultures tend to be insular and spend considerable time talking to people much like themselves.
Hilariously true and hardly a day goes by without some one on this forum stating that all problems in the world are caused by education (ignorance is bliss). And the crux of the conflict comes from here.

Quote:
The two cultures are rewarded for doing exact opposite things: academics who do not raise questions are considered poor academics, just as military officers who can't provide answers to their bosses problems don't get promoted. In the war colleges this plays out as conflict that pits encouraging intellectual curiosity and challenging received wisdom -- the very essence of academic inquiry, against the need to prepare graduates for their next assignment. In trying to accomplish both, differing attitudes, work habits, and cultures get in the way, which leads to conflicting goals as well.

The military culture of don't question orders versus the academic culture of question everything exist on different ends of the spectrum.

I would say that somewhere something seems to be working because the military's positions on global warming, energy independence and computer technology is relatively apolitical and seems well centered on reality.
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