Readers of this space know that in the undergraduate courses I teach in political science and public policy, I try to instill a healthy dose of economic, political, and cultural history in the students.
I do this because it's important for students to learn lessons from the lives and the decisions of citizens from generations past and to argue, contrary to a prevalent fad, that wisdom from past generations is very much relevant today. Or, as I put it to the students, "History did not begin in 1981."
Moreover, as part of this process, I pepper lectures with economic decision makers and others from the past, to build students' knowledge base. And in recent years, this device has proved to be doubly important, as it seems students' knowledge base has thinned. For example, most students this spring semester did not know who Paul Volcker was and his role in monetary policy in the 1980s.
That last sentence may shock some investors, but consider this one: this weekend, two twentysomething New Jersey police officers didn't know who Bob Dylan was!
To be on your own
Dylan, out for a stroll around 5 p.m. in Long Branch, N.J., located about two hours south of New York City, to relax before a concert in the area, was spotted during his walk and was asked his name by a police officer, who received a call about an unknown person walking the neighborhood, The Associated Press reported.
From the article:
"What is your name, sir?" the officer said.
"Bob Dylan," Dylan said.
"O.K., what are you doing here?" the officer said.
"I'm on tour," Dylan replied.
"Bob Dylan," Dylan said.
"O.K., what are you doing here?" the officer said.
"I'm on tour," Dylan replied.
Like a complete unknown
A second officer, also in his 20s, responded to assist the first officer. He, too, apparently was unfamiliar with Dylan.
The officers then asked Dylan for identification. Dylan, an icon, and one of most influential singer/songwriters in modern music and cultural history, said he didn't have an ID with him, and that he was just walking around to look at houses and pass some time before that night's show. The officers then asked Dylan, friendly and totally cooperative, to accompany him back to the hotel where his band was staying. Dylan's band and staff vouched for Dylan, where also the twentysomething police officers learned a little more about Bob Dylan. At least one hopes the officers learned a little more about Dylan.
Comment: Historically, I've generally been opposed to mandatory cultural education programs in public schools and universities.
I am now 100% in favor of them.
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