The.Hillsdale.

Forum Hayden  Smith  

 XI,
 Issue
 III
 2011
,ŝŐŚ^ƉĞĞĚZĂŝů͗dŚĞ&ƵƚƵƌĞŽĨŵĞƌŝĐĂŶdƌĂŶƐƉŽƌƚĂƟŽŶ͍
 BITE
For decades we’ve seen
high-­speed trains snake their
way through Europe and Asia,
but rarely here across
the Atlantic. In just a
few years, however,
the American coun-­
tryside may feature a
few high-­speed trains
of its own. The Obama
administration is
pushing forward a
plan that would con-­
struct rail lines along
ten corridors.
Currently, the
only high-­speed rail
in the U.S. is the Am-­
trak Washington-­Bal-­
timore-­New York-­Bos-­
ton rail line. The U.S.
government heavily
subsidizes that line,
spending some 35 bil-­
lion dollars on the
venture since 1971.
Obama has recently been
pushing to dedicate 53 billion
dollars to the construction of
ten new high-­speed rail corri-­
dors, similar to the existing one,
RYHUWKHQH[WÀYH\HDUV7KHDG-­
ministration continues to stress
WKH GHFUHDVH LQ WUDIÀF FRQJHV-­
tion that would result from
such a move. The President
himself claims that this rail net-­
work could take a million cars
off the road and reduce carbon
emissions.
If passed, the proposal
would bring Obama’s total
spending on high-­speed rail to
over $100 billion so far in his
term: The American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009
sent $57 billion in grants to
31 states with high-­speed rail
plans.
The new plan has provoked
Volume
March
^ƚĂītƌŝƚĞƌ SOUND
widespread opposition among
Republicans concerned about
WKH EXGJHW GHÀFLW )XQGV IRU “First of all, he campaigned in
Wisconsin a n d O h i o favor of [the law]. He is break-­
were withdrawn ing his word to the American
after governors people.
S c o t t Wa l k e r a n d Second, he swore an oath on
J o h n K a s i c h ex-­ the Bible to become president
pressed opposition that he would uphold the Con-­
to the rail lines, citing stitution and enforce the laws
it as wasteful spend-­ of the United States. He is not a
ing. The 1.2 billion one-­person Supreme Court. The
dollars involved was idea that we now have the rule
then split between of Obama instead of the rule of
California, Florida, law should frighten everybody.
Washington, and Imagine that Governor [Sar-­
Illinois. Last year ah] Palin had become presi-­
alone, Congress al-­ dent. Imagine that she had an-­
located $2.5 billion nounced that Roe versus Wade
among all the states. in her judgment was unconsti-­
Indeed, the eco-­ tutional and therefore the Unit-­
nomic costs of such ed States government would no
a project are over-­ longer protect anyone’s right
whelming. The costs to have an abortion because
involved balloon she personally had decided it
to extraordinary should be changed. The news
amounts when one looks into media would have gone crazy.
the building expenditures. Nu-­ The New York Times would
merous estimates put the price have demanded her impeach-­
tag at 50 million dollars for ment.”
Continued on page 8
-­Newt Gingrich on Obama’s

This  Year’s  Oscars:  A  Snooze  

refusal to uphold the Defense of
Hayden  Smith   Marriage Act
^ƚĂītƌŝƚĞƌ
Last Sunday saw the 83rd
Academy Awards
a “they must make an app for
that” joke. Funny, right?
People usually watch because however, it already felt like a
WKH\ ZDQW WR VHH ZKLFK ÀOPV forgone conclusion that the
King’s Speech would
In.this.issue
telecast receive the make a sweep. And
lowest ratings in three sweep it did.
years. The reasons The reason the 2EDPD%LUWK&HUWLÀFDWH
behind the drop are King’s Speech was
able to dominate Great Society CCA
partly organizational
and partly due the so easily was the Pg.  2
year’s weak crop of relatively weak slate
ÀOPV RI ÀOPV UHOHDVHG
The choice for this year. Most of Paul Ryan,
Anne Hathaway the Best Picture Modern Segregation
and James Franco to nominees were no
host aimed to attract GRXEW H[FHOOHQW ÀOPV Pg.  3
a younger viewing but to take home the
audience to the SUL]H D ÀOP QHHGV WR
Oscars. Sunday night, EH IDLUO\ KLJK SURÀOH Hillsdale’s Hotspots
however, showed the and usually not a
hosts to have little
chemistry.
blockbuster.
meant
This
“Inception”
Pg.  4  &  5
Most of the jokes and the great indie
VHHPHG WR IDOO ÁDW ÀOP ´:LQWHU·V %RQHµ China’s Megacity,
especially the lame were never really in John Miller
ones referencing the running.
“youth culture.” At one point Anticipation should always win, and not for the jokes.
Continued on Page 8
Pg.  6  &  7
Justin Timberlake even said play a major part at the Oscars. Coming into the ceremony,
 The  Not-­‐So-­‐Great  Society:  A  Review  of  CCA  III 2
March  2011
Matt Cole Great Society in his own way,
the validity of the Great Society conservatives and liberals own Robert Higgs offered an
Editor in Chief agenda are considered enemies DOLNH GHEDWLQJ RYHU ÀQH SRLQWV academic’s point of view with the conclusions drawn were
In a series of lectures of America. of government policy rather his “Economics of the Great always the same. Despite the
that could only take place at Steven Forbes of Forbes than the essential issue of how Society” as he investigated best intentions of President
Hillsdale College, an eclectic Magazine spoke regarding America is to be governed. He the ideological and economic Johnson and the liberal
assortment of speakers offered “The Great Society and Current left the audience with a challenge arguments for the legislation. politicians that carry on his
a frank and sobering look at the Economic Controversies.” He to disregard petty debates While the government believed tradition, the Great Society was
history and legacy of the Great described the great optimism over policy and focus more the right combination of an utter failure that continues
Society. The four-­day event, of those who supported the on regaining the democratic, LQWHOOLJHQFHDQGÀQDQFLQJFRXOG to harm American politics and
comprised of six gentlemen Great Society and explicated limited government on which formulate a perfect solution to economics to this day.
from various backgrounds, was how it is that liberals and big our nation was founded. all of society’s problems, history In order to repair the
the third of four CCA seminars government have maintained John Goodman from has proven with disastrous damages done to our nation,
this year. political control of America the National Center for results how wrong they were. we must recall the principles
7KH ÀUVW VSHHFK HQWLWOHG despite the failure of the Great Policy Analysis enlightened The last speaker, Charles on which our country was
“From Kennedy’s Myth 6RFLHW\ WR IXOÀOO LWV SURPLVHV the audience with his talk, Murray of the American founded. It is not enough
to Johnson’s Dream,” was Though he outlined the current “Extending the Great Society: Enterprise Institute, brought to merely oppose the most
given by the insightful and problems in our country Grading the 2010 Health Care the discussions to culmination leviathan of government
entertaining Jonah Goldberg that have resulted from the Act.” He offered an in-­depth with his address, “Losing SURJUDPV DQG FDOO IRU ÀVFDO
of National Review Online. programs, he also offered some and professional account of Ground: Update on the War on responsibility regarding others.
In his humorous address, Mr. steps Americans can take to the political and economic Poverty.” He revealed the not-­ Instead, we must completely
Goldberg gave an account of reclaim their country. repercussions of the current so-­unexpected conclusion that reject the administrative state
how liberals perverted the Author Sidney Milkis healthcare law. His description despite massive government and return to the freedom
assassination of President used his speech, “Lyndon highlighted the obvious growth and increased intended by the Constitution.
Kennedy into a rallying cry for Johnson, the Great Society, dangers of the ill-­conceived and expenditures, all Great Society If we ever hope to truly live in
enacting the set of domestic and the Fracturing of the hopelessly overpriced program programs have failed to the Great Society the Founders
programs now known as the New Deal State,” to describe and offered constructive achieve their goals and in many intended, we must have a
Great Society. The effects of this the development of the Great alternatives to the problems circumstances have actually rebirth as a nation, rejecting
KLVWRULFDO IDOVLÀFDWLRQ DUH VWLOO Society and its continuing created by Great Society made society worse. our former ways, casting off
apparent: in today’s “culture legacy. According to Milkis, legislation. While each speaker our chains, and embracing the
of hate,” those who question the Great Society has left The Independent Institute’s approached the topic of the liberty that was always ours.HF

Return  of  the  Birthers:  Where  isƚŚĂƚĐĞƌƟĮcate?

he said that he had uncovered
Calvin Freiburger KDQGZULWWHQUHFRUGVFRQÀUPLQJ
Staff Writer Obama’s 1961 birth on the
Hawaiian island of Oahu, but
Hawaii’s new Democratic FRXOG QRW ÀQG DQ DFWXDO ELUWK
governor, Neil Abercrombie, FHUWLÀFDWH
FDPH LQWR RIÀFH DW WKH HQG RI What’s
 SOHGJLQJ WR ÀQG %DUDFN going on?
2EDPD·V ELUWK FHUWLÀFDWH DQG We don’t
settle once and for all the know exactly
issue of whether or not he is what new
eligible for the presidency. information
%XW KLV HIIRUWV KDYH LQVWHDG Abercrombie
reignited a controversy that found, but
had been losing traction, thanks assuming he’s
to opponents’ observations telling the
that we have announcements truth (and if he
of the president’s birth from isn’t, then one
Hawaiian newspapers, and wonders why
that it’s in Obama’s interest to he wouldn’t
keep opponents busy chasing a simply claim
conspiracy theory rather than to have found
focusing on his policies. the birth
Abercrombie, an old friend certificate),
of the Obamas, told CNN in late it’s hard to
December that he planned to imagine how
reexamine state health records handwritten
and, if legally permitted, records from
publicly release whatever he 1961 could have been faked. In
found concerning Obama’s all likelihood, Obama is indeed
birth. On January 20, however, a natural-­born American
citizen, but the question
UHPDLQVZK\FDQ·WDQ\RQHÀQG
D ELUWK FHUWLÀFDWH IRU %DUDFN
Hussein Obama Jr.?
Some insist on sticking to
their belief that Obama was
born in Kenya, but others
speculate that, if it exists,
WKH ELUWK FHUWLÀFDWH FRQWDLQV
year later, she married Lolo
other information that could Soetoro, who adopted young
potentially prove embarrassing%DUDFNDWZKLFKSRLQWKLVOHJDO
to the president. QDPH ZDV FKDQJHG WR ´%DUU\
On January 23, a reader of
6RHWRURµ7KH+LOO%X]]UHDGHU·V
+LOO%X]]
theory says that Obama’s
o r g
name would then have been
submitted
changed on all of his public
a theoryrecords, including his birth
t h a t FHUWLÀFDWH LQ DFFRUGDQFH ZLWK
+ L O O % X ] ]
Hawaiian law—meaning that
E d i t o r -­
Abercrombie’s handwritten
i n -­ C h i e f
notations could be the only
K e v i n
remaining legal traces of
D u J a n
´%DUDFN+XVVHLQ2EDPD-Uµ
“really After all the time and
and truly”
energy spent on the issue, do
believesZH ÀQDOO\ KDYH DQ DQVZHU"
“solve[s]
Is the big secret that Obama
t h e
never bothered to have his
greatestlegal name changed back?
mystery As DuJan points out, Obama
of the 21st
could certainly have uses for
century so
HDFK QDPH ´%DUU\ 6RHWRURµ
far.” Here
would have had an edge on
are the
college admission papers,
“because it’s exotic sounding
and Indonesian and he wanted
background facts: Obama’s foreign student grants and
PRWKHU GLYRUFHG %DUDFN admissions preference,” while
Hussein Obama Sr. in 1964. A Continued on page 6
3 The
 Hillsdale
 Forum
 
March
 2011
Masthead
Paul Ryan
Matt Cole
Catherine Simmerer
Editors in Chief

Anna Williams
dŚĞĂĚŐĞƌ^ƚĂƚĞ͛ƐhƉͲĂŶĚͲŽŵŝŶŐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟǀĞ Editor at Large

Abortion: “ensure that the federal spending, and prevent

Catharine Clayton
Paul Ryan is famous for his senior member of the House
Copy Editor
“Roadmap for America’s Fu-­ Ways and Means Committee, most vulnerable among us – government waste and abuse,
ture,” a plan to drastically de-­ the 41-­year-­old Ryan has in-­ both unborn children and moth while putting forward long-­
crease government spending, spired rumors of a 2012 presi-­ ers struggling with unplanned-­ term solutions to our entitle-­ Maria Diodati
pay off national debt, and en-­ dential run. Although he was pregnancies – are afforded the ment crisis.” Olivia Tilly
courage economic growth. As selected to give the Republican compassion and opportunities Immigration: “secure the Layout Staff
Congress-­ response to the they need to choose life.” ERUGHUDQGVWHPWKHÁRZRILO-­
man for 2011 State of the Budget: “place top prior-­ legal immigration, which is an
ity on job creation and control-­ affront to the rule of law and an
Calvin Freiburger
W i s c o n -­ Union Address,
sin’s 1st and has received ling federal spending … help unacceptable security risk for Catherine Sims
District, high praises from improve accountability and to all Americans.” Joseph Viviano
C h a i r -­ Sarah Palin, he monitor federal spending to Medicare: “ensure universal Rachael Wierenga
man of claims his “head’s prevent government waste and access to health insurance, ful-­ Staff Writers
the House not that big, and abuse, while putting forward ÀOO WKH PLVVLRQV RI 0HGLFDUH
Budget [his] kids are too long-­term solutions to our en-­ Medicaid, and Social Security,
titlement crisis.” and make these programs per-­
Sam Sparks
C o m m i t -­ small” for him to
Business Manager
tee, and run in these elec-­ Education: “allocate our re-­ manently solvent.”
tions (abcnews. VRXUFHV LQ WKH PRVW HIÀFLHQW War on Terrorism: “continue
com/thenote). Of manner possible and do not advancing and supporting Iraqi
course, politicians simply hope that spending forces, supporting reconstruc-­
have been known more money on education with-­ tion efforts, and providing the
to run after say-­ out adequate planning will im government with the support it
ing they won’t, so prove our educational system.” needs, so we can bring our re-­
photo: paulryan.house.gov that’s no guaran-­ Environment:“balance maining troops home as quick-­
tee. Whatever he does growth with stewardship.” ly as possible.”
in upcoming election cycles, Homeland Security: “ensure
Catherine Simmerer
5\DQ ZLOO OLNHO\ SOD\ D VLJQLÀ-­ that the federal government
cant rolein the future of the Re-­ has the resources to protect our Editor in Chief
publican party. Here’s a sum-­ nation from those who wish to
mary of his positions from his do us harm, while eliminating
website (paulryan.house.gov). waste, fraud, and abuse.”
On these issues, Ryan promises Jobs & Economy: “help im-­
to… prove accountability, monitor

School
Segregation
A  New  Strategy  for  Closing  the  Achievement  Gap?

Anna Williams
Editor Emerita
“Pennsylania schools experiment with segregation,” headlines blared
in January (CNN.com, 1/27/11). Online outrage put a quick end to the
experiment as America’s least favorite s-­word conjured up images of
oppressed blacks in separate and very unequal schools. But in a book released
last spring, one scholar argues that it was the process of desegregation,
which freed black students from such schools, that created the achievement
JDSWKDWWRGD\·VVFKRROVVWLOOFDQ·WÀ[
First, though, some background. The “segregation” at McCaskey East
High School in Lancaster, PA, was a mentoring program that separated
students by race, gender, and language for just six minutes a day and
20 minutes twice a month. According to LancasterOnline.com, a school
employee conceived of the program after learning about the academic
SHUIRUPDQFH RI EODFN VWXGHQWV RQ VWDWH WHVWV ODVW \HDU ´SURÀFLHQW RU
advanced” levels in reading were earned by 60 percent of whites but just
RQHWKLUGRIEODFNV$QRIÀFLDOVWDWHPHQWIURPWKHVFKRROVGLVWULFWVD\VWKH
program was “based on research that shows grouping black students by
gender with a strong role model can help boost their academic achievement
and self esteem.” Continued on page 6
it’s  all  in  the   March
 2011
4

   Environment: by Lauren Wierenga

GUEST WRITER
Photos by Greg Barry

The  Old  Snack  Bar

This is where studying gets serious. Been procrastinating for the past 5 months on that Eng-­
lish paper due at 5 p.m. tomorrow? No worries, there’s always a place that will force you
to buckle down and get it done-­-­ either that, or kill you while you’re trying. You’re the type
who needs quiet, but you’re not cut from the triumphant cloth of those who can survive
the “cozy” factor of the Heritage Room, especially since you’ve been stumbling through the
past three weeks on 2.5 hours of sleep a night. 5-­hour energy drink in hand, you trudge off
WRDSODFHZKHUHQRQHRI\RXUIULHQGVZLOOEHDEOHWRÀQG\RXDQXQFRPIRUWDEOHZRRGHQ
booth in a dark corner. The pain and crappy lighting feed your soul. “It’s go time,” you
think, downing the last two ounces of your energy drink and focusing in on the blue glare
from your computer. Music and merriment are for the weak. Friends? What friends? “The
only friend I have is the ‘A’ that I’m going to get on that paper tomorrow,” you tell your-­
self. Five hours later, your brain stem has snapped and your tailbone is fractured, but your
paper is at least somewhat coherent—to your exhausted brain, anyway. “Good enough,”
you tell yourself as you pack up your baggage, proud that you resisted the urge to add any
PRUHJUDIÀWLWRWKHLQNFRYHUHGWDEOHV

The  Formal  Lounge

Generally used during the day for quick study sessions between classes, the Formal Lounge has been
home to those from all over the studying spectrum—in that exceedingly small window of time when
some student organization isn’t using it, that is. With perks like its prime location, brighter lighting than
WKH+HULWDJH5RRPWKRXJKVWLOOÁXRUHVFHQWVPDOOÀUHSODFHDQGFRPIRUWDEOHIXUQLVKLQJV\RXFDQ·WJR
wrong with this quiet, semi-­busy study space. You allow yourself some distraction and some procrasti-­
nation, but you make sure to keep the window on your computer open to whatever you were working
on 5 minutes ago and will return to 15 minutes from now. The only environmental distraction is the
constant opening and closing of the main door—which is almost a fatal disturbance to those Formal
Loungers who haven’t killed their sense of curiosity or acquired the iron will to resist glancing up to see
who just left or entered their study abode. You’ll get your work done in your own time, though—after
you get a cup of coffee from AJ’s and make a couple of trips around the union to see if there’s anyone
worth talking to. If there’s not, you’ll probably be in there until you need to be somewhere else—or are
kicked out by a meeting.

Finding  the  Right  St

 5
March  2011

The  Heritage  Room

)RUIXVV\VWXGLHUVZKRVKXQWKHRPQLSUHVHQWÁXRUHVFHQWOLJKWVRQFDPSXVWKH+HULWDJH5RRPLVWKHVSRW
WRVHWWOHLQ<RXZRQ·WJLYHXSFRPIRUWRUDHVWKHWLFDSSHDOZKHQ\RXVWXG\1RZKHQ\RXVWXG\\RXOLNH
WRKDYHHDJOHVZDWFKLQJ\RXUHDG\RXUODWHVWFRS\RI7KRPDV3DLQHLQIURQWRIDURDULQJÀUHSODFHRQD
leather sofa. Sadly, school policy forbids you to bring pipes to actively smoke while studying, or else you
would already be smoking your home brew. You are the discerning studier-­ nothing but complete silence
DQGGLPOLJKWLQJZLOOVXIÀFHRQ\RXUTXHVWIRUWKHXOWLPDWHVWXG\HQYLURQPHQW6XUHWKHLQH[SHULHQFHG
VWXGLHUPLJKWGR]HRIILQWKHGLPOLJKWLQJDEVROXWHVLOHQFHDQGZDUPOXOORIWKHÀUHSODFHEXW\RXNQRZ
better, experienced Heritage Room studier. Getting sleepy? Why not bust out some of the newest music
from the Vienna Boys’ Choir to stay awake and help you focus on that Milton? Not cutting it? Well, the kid
who thought nobody saw him eat it on the ice outside should fuel you with enough suppressed laughter
to sustain you on your quest to get that A+++. Study on, Heritage Room studier, and don’t be too afraid to
head back to your room sometime, either. Your roommate is probably wondering where you are.

The  Booths  in  AJ’s

<RXMXVWVHFXUHGRQHRIFDPSXV·VPRVWFRYHWHGVWXG\VSRWVE\JHWWLQJLQWRWZRÀVWÀJKWV
and kicking several small children. “Totally worth it,” you say with a smile as you set down
your computer and grande caramel skim-­milk latte, looking around you to see if anyone
has spotted your sweet digs. Sure, it might be somewhat distracting as 12 acquaintances
will probably stop by to chitchat, but you understand that it comes with the territory, and
relish such encounters. Hearing a worker scream “EARLY RISER!!” every twenty seconds
doesn’t even phase your resolve. You gaze about from your dearly-­secured throne at the
nameless masses around you who wish they’d had the fortune to have secured your booth.
Better luck next time, chumps. You’ve announced your arrival to the midday college social
VFHQHDQGQRZ\RXFDQKXQNHUGRZQDQGÀQLVKWKDWDVVLJQPHQW\RXIRUJRWWRGREHIRUH
class, or kill that hour you have before you have to head back to Lane with some Facebook-­
checking and a plate of fries. You don’t take your studying very seriously, which is good,
because nobody else in AJ’s does, either.

Your  Room
Your parents spent a lot of money on all of those classy furnishings for your room. Your huge
rug from Linens-­n-­Things is the talk of your hall, and you’re pretty proud of your bedspread,
too. This is good, since you spend almost every waking hour in your comfy abode, venturing
timorously out only to go to class or—horror of horrors—eat. Sure, the only people you know
DUHWKHJX\VRQ\RXUÁRRUDQG\RXURQO\UHDOIULHQGLV\RXUURRPPDWHZKRE\WKHZD\LVVLFN
RIQHYHUKDYLQJDQ\WLPHDORQHLQ\RXUURRPEHFDXVH\RXDUHDOZD\VLQLWEXWDOWKRXJKQRERG\
wants to admit it, they all wish that they had your GPA, and not just your rug. So, you might
hear some sniggers about calling your mom several times per day, or get jabbed about only
KDYLQJDVRFLDOOLIHRQOLQHEXWUHPHPEHURQHGD\\RX·UHJRLQJWREHVXSHUULFKDQGWKHQ\RX
can just buy friends. Their socialization will probably never get them accepted into grad school.
Sure, the campus might think that you’re a prospective, not a student, when you appear at Saga,
but they’ll all know your name when you’re on the cover of Forbes.

tudy  Spot  for  You

 Just
 Because
 They
 Can:
 China
 Makes
 a
 Megacity
Catherine Sims
transport, energy, water, and those millions of people will be
almost a tenth of the Chinese
economy, it is probably safe to 6
Staff Writer
telecommunications networks getting to work as speedily as
of nine cities in the Pearl Riv-­ possible, plans are in the works
assume that the proverbial Pa-­
goda is not suffering f ro m March
 2011
a n y loose shingles and that
Apparently unwilling to er Delta. This undertaking will to add 3100 miles of rail lines. this will actually prove to be
Birthers, from page 2
rest on its laurels, the country create an urban area of 16,000 Turning nine cities into one
a cost-­effective decision. the blacker-­sounding “Barack
that brought square miles and boast a popu-­ gigantic mess of metropolitan
Strange-­ Obama” would fare better in
the world ly, this mam-­ the world of left-­wing Chicago
toilet paper, moth city politics.
g u n p o w -­ has not Indeed, as Andy McCarthy
der, and ice earned itself wrote for National Review On-­
cream is a moniker line on July 30, 2009, Obama has
engaging and appar-­ a record of emphasizing differ-­
in a bout of ently there ent aspects of his background
urban plan-­ is no plan (and sometimes changing de-­
ning on a in the im-­ tails outright) for personal gain.
scale of truly mediate Early in the 2008 campaign,
phenomenal future to Team Obama boasted about
proportions. b e s t o w how his middle name, “Husse-­
T h e one upon in,” would symbolize a new
People’s it. Since Chi-­ era of good relations with the
Republic of na plans to Middle East, but later, they de-­
China is not move more clared the very mention of it a
hurting for and more racist smear. McCarthy writes:
inhabitants citizens “If Obama wants to strike
at the mo-­ into u r -­ a connection with graduating
ment: 1 out ban areas, students in Moscow, he makes
of every 5 the trend up a story about meeting his
people in of densely ‘future wife…in class’ (Barack
the world concentrated and Michelle Obama met at
is a Chinese p o p u l a -­ work). If he wants to posture
citizen. With tions in about his poverty and struggle
that in mind, it does not come nameless locations might in America, he waxes eloquent
China’s proposed megacity: 42 million people in an area of 16,000 square miles.
as a total surprise that China is be on the rise. After all, toi-­ about his single mother’s sur-­
in the process of planning the let paper became pretty popu-­ viving on ‘food stamps’ so she
world’s largest megacity in a lation of 42 million inhabit-­ interconnectivity does not could use every cent to send
concerted effort t o i m p r o v e ants. come cheap. The estimated cost lar. HF
him ‘to the best
HIÀFLHQF\DQGORZHUWKHFRVWRI Just to put that in per-­ for this enterprise
schools in the coun-­
public works. spective, this city will be comes to 2 trillion
try’ (Obama was
Over the next six years, twice the size of Wales and yuan, which is over raised by his mater-­
around 150 major infrastructure its head count will handily 300 billion dollars. nal grandparents,
projects will combine the outnumber the entire country As the area in ques-­ who had good jobs
of Canada. To ensure that tion accounts for
School Segregation, from page 2 and were able to pull
strings to get him
So let’s give credit where from noble impulses and was achievement gap into an elite Hawai-­
credit is due: high school ad-­ WRWKHRYHUDOOEHQHÀWRIWKHQD-­ overnight. Poverty, ian prep school).”
ministrators discovered a real tion, racial desegregation was family breakdown, If Barack
problem, and rather than throw often implemented in a way peer pressure, indif-­ Obama’s real name
money at it, deny it, or blame that was devastating to black ferent teachers—all is indeed the long-­
LW RQ VRFLHW\ WKH\ WULHG WR À[ communities. It frequently de-­ these must contrib-­ awaited key to
it. Thanks to America’s knee-­ stroyed black schools, reduced ute to the problem, Birthergate, it would
jerk reaction to the word “seg-­ the numbers of black principals meaning it will ad-­ certainly be embar-­
regation,” though, they had to who could serve as role models, PLWRIQRHDV\À[ rassing, but Birthers
abandon the program before its and made school a strange and Nevertheless, would do well to set
effectiveness could be tested— uncomfortable environment for if Americans truly aside their expecta-­
which is unfortunate, since re-­ black children, a place many want to improve the tions that the truth
cent scholarship suggests that viewed as quintessentially education of minori-­ will somehow expel
racial segregation might have ‘white.’” ties, they would do him from the White
KDGLWVEHQHÀWV The law of unintended con-­ well to stop scape-­ House. That said, for
In “Acting White: The Iron-­ sequences strikes again. goating the usual suffering the distrust
ic Legacy of Desegregation,” But don’t get me wrong. suspects and instead of so many Ameri-­
Stuart Buck offers a new per-­ No one is arguing that re-­seg-­ read Buck’s work, FDQVRQHLQÀYHDF-­
spective on just what happened regating schools would solve admit the complex-­ cording to a Wash-­
to black communities after the the problems that desegrega-­ ity of the situation, ington Post/ABC
Supreme Court mandated de-­ tion helped to create. Or that and set out on the News poll from May
segregation in 1954. A sum-­ a mentoring program like the long, arduous path 2010), the president
mary from the Amazon.com short-­lived one at McCaskey of effective reform.   has only himself to
description: “Although it arose East would close the racial HF blame. HF
7
March
 2011 From
 Serial
 Commas
 to
 the
 Big
 Scrum:
ŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŽǁ͛ƐEĞǁŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ
Anna Williams
Editor Emerita
John Miller, the incoming
director of the Dow Journalism
Program, is a man of many in-­
terests. Though a veteran jour-­
nalist for National Review and
other publications, he does not
FRQÀQHKLPVHOIWRSROLWLFDOZULW-­
LQJ +LV QRQÀFWLRQ WLWOHV H[-­
plore conservative philanthrop-­
ic organizations, multicultural-­
ism, and America’s relationship
with France; his novel The First
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count of the Lincoln’s assas-­
VLQDWLRQ +LV QH[W ERRN³7KH
Big Scrum: How Teddy Roos-­
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sport’s history and will appear
in April.
The Hillsdale Forum con-­
ducted a phone interview with
him to learn more about his
personal history, interests, and
plans for the Dow Program.
HF: How did you learn about
Hillsdale?
John Miller: My older brother
went there, class of ’77. I was
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DQG P\ ÀUVW SLFWXUH RI ZKDW D
college is was formed by visits
to Hillsdale. And so it’s been a
part of my life since then. In the
‘80s we’d get Imprimis at home,
so I’d read it when I was in high
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HF: So you knew about
Hillsdale, but you attended
the University of Michigan?!
JM: Michigan was the right
choice for me at the time, and
I didn’t apply to Hillsdale. It
was a good education. The
thing about Michigan is this:
they don’t make you get a good
education, but there’s one to be
KDG,I\RXJRÀQGWKDWHGXFD-­
tion, you can get it, but they
GRQ·WPDNH\RXJHWLW
HF: You’ve been working in
Washington, D.C., for almost
twenty years, though you
spent your childhood and col-­
lege years in Michigan. Are
you ready to return to the land
of 6-­month winters? Or excit-­
ed?
JM: , GHÀQLWHO\ DP H[FLWHG WR
return to Michigan. I wasn’t
ORRNLQJIRUDMRE,·PGRLQJZHOO
out here [in D.C.], and I’ve built
a career here. But Larry Arnn
called last summer and we
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led to another.
Photo courtesy of John J. Miller
+)'R\RXKDYHVSHFLÀFSODQV but if you want to be a carpen-­
for the Dow Journalism Pro-­ ter, you have to start swinging
gram yet?
JM: First thing: reinstate the nails.
serial comma in the Collegian
VW\OHERRN7KDW·VSULRULW\QXP-­
ber one, as far as I’m concerned.
But seriously, I’m stepping into
a pretty strong program. I have
a lot of ideas for doing things
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I’ve got some notions and I’d
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to get the journalism program
more integrated with WHIP
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dents have journalism opportu-­
nities.
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as many people as possible a good interview, and for some quite some time.
NQRZDERXWWKHMRXUQDOLVPSUR-­
people it’s an area for improve-­
JUDP 0DQ\ SHRSOH WKLQN WKDW
ment, let us say. So it really de-­ HF: Your next book, The Big
journalism is a dying industrypends on the author. Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt
because daily papers are going0RVWZULWHUVORYHWRWDONDERXW Saved Football, comes out in
the way of the dinosaurs. But their writing. If you get them April. What’s it about?
the media is a thriving industry,
going, it’s hard to get them to JM: It tells an almost complete-­
and the Dow Program is a greatstop. The art of giving an in-­ ly untold story about the begin-­
way to get started. terview requires you to give nings of football. Football was
crisp answers. For a ten-­minute an incredibly violent sport at
HF: On that podcast, you don’t want to give the end of the 19th century, to
note, do you a lecture. A good interviewer the point where young men and
have any ad-­ will draw out from you what boys were dying while playing
vice for aspiring the audience needs to hear. A it. So a prohibition movement
writers? good interview is a conversa-­ emerges to ban football…In
JM: If you want tion. I want these podcasts to 1905, President Roosevelt sum-­
to write, you be a forum for interesting writ-­ mons the head coaches of Har-­
need to write. HUVWRGLVFXVVWKHLUZRUNIRUWHQ vard, Yale, and Princeton (the
<RX GRQ·W WKLQN minutes. biggest football programs in the
about being a country at the time) to the White
writer; be one. HF: You’ve been in conser-­ House. Roosevelt is a fan of
One of the vative political circles for a IRRWEDOOKHEHOLHYHVLQWKHULVNV
great things at while, and politics is one ma-­ he’s an advocate of the strenu-­
Hillsdale is that jor topic of your writing. Do RXV OLIH KH WKLQNV VSRUWV WXUQ
journalism is not you have any favorites for the boys into men. [To the coaches]
D PDMRU , WKLQN 2012 Republican presidential he essentially says, “If you guys
majors ought to candidate? don’t do something about this
be in traditional JM: The job of conservatives problem, you’re going to lose
academic disci-­ LV QRW WR SLFN D ZLQQHU HDUO\ the sport.” And the coaches
plines. You can The job of conservatives is to leave the White House, form
learn a little bit let these candidates come to us the organization that becomes
about journalism and tell us why they deserve the NCAA, and pass a series of
in the classroom, our support. We want this to rule-­changes, the most impor-­
and Hillsdale be a courtship, not a horse race tant of which was the forward
provides that, where you’re gambling and pass. And it changes the game;
but you learn it QHHGWRSLFNWKHZLQQHU it spreads it out and turns it into
by doing it. It’s Ultimately any conservative ZKDW ZH NQRZ WRGD\ :LWKRXW
OLNH VKRS FODVV wants to settle on the most con-­ that, either football would be
you can listen to servative electable candidate, very different or it wouldn’t
a teacher tell you DQG , GRQ·W NQRZ ZKR WKDW H[LVW7KHVWRU\KDVQHYHUEHHQ
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told at this length. HF
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THE HILLSDALE FORUM is an independent student
newspaper published twice a semester. We print news,
a hammer and pounding the
opinions, editorials, reviews, satire, and whatever else
VWULNHVRXUIDQF\
HF: Your “Between the Cov-­
ers” podcasts for National
Review Online allow you to Interested in...
interview a wide variety of au-­
thors—from P.J. O’Rourke and
writing? editing? graphic design?
Thomas Sowell to Robert Alter
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cially jealous. What’s the most Got opinions? Want to share them?
interesting interview you’ve
ever done?
JM: Some are better than oth-­ Then join the Hillsdale Forum! We always need staff writ-­
ers. They’re all decent. So much
ers, copy editors, and graphic designers. Contact Editors in
really depends on the person
you’re interviewing. There’s
Chief Matt Cole (mcole@hillsdale.edu) or Catherine Sim-­
merer (csimmerer@hillsdale.edu).
a performance aspect to this.
 Oscars, from page 1
Instead the primary
 2011
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the divisiveness of last year’s
Hurt Locker vs. Avatar battle.
People like to feel passionate
about the things they root for;
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for Hurt Locker to pull out a
attitude throughout. In the
future the producers should
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as hosts. Steve Martin and Billy
Crystal have had great success
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Actress and dropped an
F-­bomb. I don’t really care
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previous years, but more likely
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next time. At the very least it
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In any case, here are the big
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Best Director: Tom Hooper
Real Hillsdalians of Genius
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Here’s to you, Mr. Hillsdalian
Sports Fan. You only made it
to one basketball game because
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Saturday mid-­afternoon study
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March
shouting, clapping, and making
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they made. You clapped after
one three-­point basket, but that
victory. about the language people use, 7KH.LQJ·V6SHHFK to attend the big home game. ZDV DQ DERYH DYHUDJH VKRW
This year I couldn’t care EXWLW·VFRPPRQNQRZOHGJHWKH After ignoring four all-­campus Those boys clapped after every
OHVV ZKLFK ÀOP ZRQ EHFDXVH SXEOLF QHWZRUNV GRQ·W DOORZ Best Original Screenplay: HPDLOV\RXÀQDOO\UHDGWKHÀIWK point is scored. Clearly, none
none stood head and shoulders such expletives and I can’t help 'DYLG6HLGOHU7KH.LQJ·V one; it said that both teams are RI WKHP NQRZ WKH SULQFLSOH RI
DERYHWKHUHVWRUEHORZWKHUHVW EXW ZRQGHU ZKHWKHU VKH GLG LW 6SHHFK highly ranked nationally, so diminishing marginal returns,
for that matter. as a publicity stunt. \RX NQHZ WKDW JDPH ZRXOG EH and besides, all that noise must
0\DSDWK\FHUWDLQO\ZDVQ·W Hopefully losing 10 million Best Adapted Screenplay: more interesting than the rest. have distracted the players. The
helped by James Franco’s blasé YLHZHUV IURP ODVW \HDU·V Aaron Sorkin (The Social You found a nice seat in the ZRUVW SDUW WKRXJK ZDV WKDW
1HWZRUN student section and found the they remained standing the
game pleasing. When the ref ZKROH WLPH :KDW LV WKH SRLQW
Best Actor: Colin Firth (The called a foul on the Chargers, of the bleacher seats, if not to sit
.LQJ·V6SHHFK you tried to listen to the guy and quietly observe the sporting
behind you explaining the HYHQW"7KDWLVZK\,VDOXWH\RX
Best Actress: Natalie Portman rules, but you couldn’t hear oh observer of the ancient art of
%ODFN6ZDQ over those rude boys yelling VSRUW EHFDXVH RQO\ \RX NQRZ
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Best Supporting Actor:

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E-­‐MAIL: hillsdaleforum@gmail.com
Best Cinematography: Wally
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HF

THE  HILLSDALE  FORUM

High-­speed rail, from page 1
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hillsdaleforum@gmail.com
DQV RU $VLDQV RZQ FDUV D IDFW lic subsidies to be carried into
ever, is a conservative estimate:
that also means that unless DFWLRQ ZKLOH QRW HYHQ VHUYLQJ
many say the bill could be as
high-­speed rail costs are sig-­ a public need—both staples of
much as 120 million dollars a
QLÀFDQWO\ ORZHUHG SHRSOH ZLOO previous Obama budget pro-­
mile in some areas.
have no incentive to stop using posals.
Aside from the huge costs,
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there are many other objections
The largest problem of all majority in Congress, the rail
to Obama’s plan. High-­speed
LV SRSXODWLRQ (XURSH LV KDOI system may not materialize.
rail in the U.S. is not quite as
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200 million more people. Chi-­ KRZHYHULWUHPDLQVSRVVLEOHKH
Japan for a variety of factors.
na equals us in size but boasts could get it through.
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people, compared to just nine businesses undermine the free
locations in order to reach nec-­
such American cities. A high-­ market and account for vast
essary speeds. Because Ameri-­
density population is necessary DPRXQWRIRXUGHÀFLWVSHQGLQJ
ca is so large, a line from, say,
for high-­speed rail systems to 5HSXEOLFDQV VKRXOG PDNH LW D
Washington, D.C., to Chicago
UHPDLQSURÀWDEOH7KHRQO\OLQH priority to kill this plan entirely.
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currently in the states serves With the nation facing enor-­
legal battles to obtain the nec-­
our most densely populated re-­ mous debt problems, they need
essary land.
gion, yet it still relies heavily on to look beyond cutting entitle-­
Making it even more dif-­
government subsidies. PHQWVRUWKHIHZKXQGUHGPLO-­
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Since high-­speed rails lion dollars for Planned Parent-­
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ZRXOG WKXV EH HFRQRPLFDOO\ hood and start saying no to the
suited transportation routes.
This is partly because so many LQHIÀFLHQW 2EDPD·V SURSRVDO billon-­dollar subsidies. HF