The Penn State Scandal and Bourgeois Culture

Once it was revealed that Penn State had fired Joe Paterno from his position as head coach of the school's football program, the street erupted with the discontented mobs of the university's student body, the petit-bourgeoisie and the lumpenproletariat. Unbelievably, this action came following the revelation that Paterno had direct knowledge of his assistant coach (and close friend), Jerry Sandusky, raping minors enrolled in his (Sandusky's) charity and failed to report this to any law enforcement agency. What does all this say about the current state of Western culture?

You have a situation in which the highest echelons of a university are involved in covering up the a serial rape of children — clearly to safeguard their financial interests — and the response to this, by large numbers of people, is outrage over the fact that "JoePa" was fired. Incredible.

Good assessment of the situation:

I'm truly amazed by the perverse causes some people will rally behind.

This just serves as a case study in how out of control society's fetish with organized sports has become. If it were up to me, sporting would be nationalized and completely detached from academic institutions. (The Stalinist in me would also have every individual who partook in that pathetic display sent to a forced labor camp for six months, but that's neither here nor there.)

Celtiberian wrote:I'm truly amazed by the perverse causes some people will rally behind.

This just serves as a case study in how out of control society's fetish with organized sports has become. If it were up to me, sporting would be nationalized and completely detached from academic institutions. (The Stalinist in me would also have every individual who partook in that pathetic display sent to a forced labor camp for six months, but that's neither here nor there.)

How would all sports be nationalized? What about public schools which offer athletic programs such as sports for kids and teens? I agree for the most part though. Sometimes people can care more about if their football team wins than their own family. Disgraceful.

Pantheon Rising wrote:How would all sports be nationalized? What about public schools which offer athletic programs such as sports for kids and teens?

All organized sporting, from youth to adult leagues, could take place in public athletic institutions which have no affiliation whatsoever with academia. Leagues would continue to compete nationally, with games being viewable by the public, but the revenue generated therein would be redistributed to various public services. (This policy is only relevant within the context of a socialist market economy, of course. Under a fully planned economy, it would be up to the people to democratically decide how they wish to remunerate athletic professions, if at all.)

Schools should continue to provide physical education courses, but that should be the extent of their interaction with athletics, in my opinion.

Pantheon Rising wrote:How would all sports be nationalized? What about public schools which offer athletic programs such as sports for kids and teens? I agree for the most part though. Sometimes people can care more about if their football team wins than their own family. Disgraceful.

Public athletics projects need not be adjoined to academic curricula. It is possible to provide nationalized athletic programs and associations independent of educational organizations. There is no need for an "Ivy League," simply put, and even less for an NCAA.

Celtiberian wrote:All organized sporting, from youth to adult leagues, could take place in public athletic institutions which have no affiliation whatsoever with academia. Leagues would continue to compete nationally, with games being viewable by the public, but the revenue generated therein would be redistributed to various public services. (This policy is only relevant within the context of a socialist market economy, of course. Under a fully planned economy, it would be up to the people to democratically decide how they wish to remunerate athletic professions, if at all.)

Schools should continue to provide physical education courses, but that should be the extent of their interaction with athletics, in my opinion.

I understand sorta. When I was very little I use to play in youth associations. It would basically be like extending the youth association to an athletics association for all ages.

Pantheon Rising wrote:I understand sorta. When I was very little I use to play in youth associations.

As did I. I also had the misfortune of being involved in organized sports while in high school, which is what initially exposed me to the various problems associated with having athletic programs within academic institutions.

It would basically be like extending the youth association to an athletics association for all ages.

Correct.