Is Boston the most intellectual city in the U.S.? (college, live)

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

And people are much, much more engaged in local politics (and to an extent, national politics) than they are in other areas. Where I lived before, part of the problem was that no one knew about or really cared about politics. One woman, who was not an idiot, and actually had gone to an Ivy League school did not even know who our current senator was a few years back. This was a well-known senator even outside the state, and he was running for re-election. The outright intellectual dis-engagement was a sharp contrast to the engagement I find up here.

In the Boston area I see very little interest in local politics. Even on this forum which is probably far more educated than average, I would be surprised if the majority of posters here know or care who their local state rep or senator is (never mind their city counselor/town selectman or school committee member). Turnouts in "off" election years are absolutely pathetic, and dropping. Many towns can barely meet their quorum for town meeting, which can be as low as 1% of the population. If it is less elsewhere, well that is truly scary.

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by massnative71

In the Boston area I see very little interest in local politics. Even on this forum which is probably far more educated than average, I would be surprised if the majority of posters here knew or cared who their local state rep or senator is. Turnouts in "off" election years are absolutely pathetic, and dropping. Many towns can barely meet their quorum for town meeting, which can be as low as 1% of the population.

Not sure what to tell you. Granted, everywhere, voter turnout should be much higher. But, in my town and in surrounding towns, I see a much, much higher level of engagement than I have seen in other areas where I have lived. Even just in local Facebook groups - people are much more aware of what is happening.

And you are correct -- it is, indeed scary. I've seen school boards used as funnels for money to political cronies -- school boards which are already starved for money because the voters are dedicated solely to paying no taxes. So the board is filled with Republican members who send money to big wigs in the county and state Republican parties. And no one knows or really cares. It is deeply disturbing.

[sawyer2]

And for what its worth, half of all workers in Massachusetts held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2016, marking the first time any U.S. state has reached that threshold.

Education and State Economic Strength: A Snapshot of Current Data - MassBudget

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by sawyer2

And for what its worth, half of all workers in Massachusetts held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2016, marking the first time any U.S. state has reached that threshold.

Education and State Economic Strength: A Snapshot of Current Data - MassBudget

Bachelor's=new HS diploma. I don't know, I am not overly impressed. More evidence of a severely devalued BA than anything else.

Many other states will follow. Not really special.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Bachelor's=new HS diploma. I don't know, I am not overly impressed. More evidence of a severely devalued BA than anything else.

Many other states will follow. Not really special.

If Boston isn't intellectual, where is? Today in the cafeteria my coworkers discussed Kant and Nietzsche. I'll guess philosophy isn't intellectual enough for you, but I wonder what would be? Or maybe you'd judge their conversation too pedestrian.

If a Bachelor's degree is just a glorified HS diploma, what does that say about all the other states (and it is all the other states) where less than half of the workers have them?

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

Not sure what to tell you. Granted, everywhere, voter turnout should be much higher. But, in my town and in surrounding towns, I see a much, much higher level of engagement than I have seen in other areas where I have lived. Even just in local Facebook groups - people are much more aware of what is happening.

My old town has a FB group with maybe 5 regular posters, and will go maybe 2 weeks at a time without any activity. There used to be a few very active forums that withered away maybe around 2011 or 2012 due to the rise of social media and the "sexier" national politics dominating everything else.

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

And you are correct -- it is, indeed scary. I've seen school boards used as funnels for money to political cronies -- school boards which are already starved for money because the voters are dedicated solely to paying no taxes. So the board is filled with Republican members who send money to big wigs in the county and state Republican parties. And no one knows or really cares. It is deeply disturbing.

What do you mean by school boards being used as "funnels"? That is highly illegal and very traceable if it is coming from the actual board. If it is their own personal money, well then there is nothing wrong with that. Boston and almost everywhere else in NE has non-partisan boards, but most are Democrats and provide their own funds and support to the state Democrat parties. I don't know why you must inflict partisanship into this discussion? There are plenty of cronies in both parties. As a newbie to the area you might not be aware, but many MA politicians have been indicted over the years and every single one I can think of has been a Democrat. So much for our educated and politically aware voters...

[chicagoliz]

Originally Posted by massnative71

What do you mean by school boards being used as "funnels"? That is highly illegal and very traceable if it is coming from the actual board. If it is their own personal money, well then there is nothing wrong with that. Boston and almost everywhere else in NE has non-partisan boards, but most are Democrats and provide their own funds and support to the state Democrat parties. I don't know why you must inflict partisanship into this discussion? There are plenty of cronies in both parties. As a newbie to the area you might not be aware, but many MA politicians have been indicted over the years and every single one I can think of has been a Democrat. So much for our educated and politically aware voters...

They would switch long-standing providers of services to the district to firms that were owned by big shot Republicans who did not have the same experience. This was all done out in the open. It's just that no one really cared or bothered to attend the meetings.

It could have happened with Democrats in charge, but it didn't.

Certainly Dems are prone to corruption as well. 4 of the last 7 Illinois governors went to prison. Both Ds and Rs.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by chicagoliz

They would switch long-standing providers of services to the district to firms that were owned by big shot Republicans who did not have the same experience. This was all done out in the open. It's just that no one really cared or bothered to attend the meetings.

That stuff happens all the time in the Boston area. Not usually because of political party stuff (after all local politics is non-partisan there), but on a level of "who knows who" and who contributed what to their campaigns.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by such sweet thunder

This feels like a reach.

The Boston area has 7 universities ranked in the top forty nation-wide by US News and the World Report, who controversy aside, seem to be the standard bearer for this type of thing.

Harvard, 2
MIT, 7
Tufts, 27
BC, 31
Brandeis, 34
BU, 39
Northeastern, 39

That's an absurd collection of schools, the best in the world, and anomaly for a city Boston's size.

But, do all those smart graduates STAY in Boston?

[carpeskiem]

Originally Posted by Copanut

But, do all those smart graduates STAY in Boston?

So many of them end up in New York! Making New York seem like a "more intellectual city" at times just because of the larger and more media-dominated population.

Of course, it is hard to define a "true Bostonian" or a "true New Yorker" if people keep leaving the cities due to the rent costs.

Those who have lived in New England a long time definitely feel a stronger connection to the local colleges.

But here's something that will open up a can of worms - would Manhattan on its own be a more intellectual city than Boston?