[20] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: LIVING WAGE SIT-IN AT HARVARD (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Ezra Rosen)
Thu Apr 19 11:26:02 2001
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Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 03:02:17 -0400
To: nathanw@MIT.EDU (Nathan J. Williams)
From: Ezra Rosen <erosen@MIT.EDU>
Cc: mit-talk@MIT.EDU
Resent-From: jhawk@MIT.EDU
Resent-To: mit-talk-mtg@charon.MIT.EDU
Nathan,
Brevity is the soul of wit, so
>Can you back that up with numbers?
>As smug as it would make me feel to think that "my" institution is
>more liberal-minded than Harvard, I don't actually believe it.
It's true, whether you believe it or not.
>> When you are making barely enough to survive on, when there is money
>> that is just collecting interest and making the rich richer that
>> makes no sense!
>
>Sure it does. If you spend faster than you make money on your
>endowment, you can only pay this "living wage" until the endowment
>runs out. If you spend at or below that rate, you can do so
>indefinitely. Clearly, in the latter case you can help more people in
>the long run. Doesn't it make more sense to take the long view?
>Shortsighted attempts at doing good are still shortsighted.
It makes no sense in this case. Harvard has enough of a money surplus to
pay the living wage, have enough left over to buy the state of New
Hampshire, and still make money on their endowment.
>Let's talk about MIT students who are too lazy to spell complete
>words. What kind of effect are they going to have on world opinion?
>Not much. Rhetoric goes over much better with impeccable spelling and
>grammar.
Thanks for taking us all back to the sixth grade for a stroll, but rhetoric
goes even better when the facts are correct. We're both MIT students, and
people may judge me based on your actions. So next time you open your
mouth, make sure your brain is engaged. Just a little helpful hint so you
can avoid looking like a moron.
Cheers,
Ezra
