The Mad Sociologist Blog

  • Some Interesting Survey Responses from My AP Students

    I like to ask some survey questions on the final exam for my history classes. This year I received responses from eleventh grade Advanced Placement US History students and eleventh grade Cambridge US History students. The questions were: What has been the most significant historical event to happen in your lifetime? Of the different historical… Read more

  • Cass Sunstein and Ezra Klein on Conspiracy Theories

    Why People Embrace Conspiracy Theories I’m of the belief that a big part of conspriacy theories is gaps in our information base, be it through secrecy or less devious means. The Kennedy Assassination comes to mind. Clearly, there is information that is missing from the history on that event. Human beings simply must try to… Read more

  • Militia Activism vs. Occupy

    And: The Rained Out Revolution   I can’t help but ask myself, what if Occupy protestors in 2010 showed up with AR-15s? On one hand, being armed may have given law enforcement pause before they use paramilitary tactics to take down the Occupy encampments all over the country. On the other hand, Occupy was protesting… Read more

  • The Costs of Testing

    How our endless regimen of testing constitutes a robbery of our kids’ educations   I wrote this article for my local newspaper, the Fort Myers News Press. So far, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. This is true with regard to my administrators, principal and assistant principals as well as my peer teachers. My students… Read more

  • The Hypocracy of Right Wing Dreams

    Or, Gambling on Violence in Nevada Fortunately, it appears that the so called right-wing militia uprising in Nevada has been peacefully resolved. I am appalled that, at least in appearance, the militia has been successful in getting the federal government to back down. From the point of view of the feds, backing down in the… Read more

  • McCutcheon: Another Nail in the Coffin

    The Corporatocracy Strikes Again   The recent Supreme Court decision in the McCutcheon case really should come as no surprise at this point. It is clear that the branch of government that is least accountable to the public should take the lead in securing the so called rights of the corporate elite. This is one… Read more

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