The Wal-Martization of Higher Education

by Oronte Churm Sam Walton—huckster, billionaire, icon of the self-made movement—is proof that a representative democracy with a market economy permits class movement if you sell enough discounted panties. The late Walton’s embarrassment of riches was amassed, of course, by providing the appearance of prosperity to the masses, a cornucopia of goods at apparently affordable prices. Just as it’s hard to turn down Ol’ Roy Hearty Loaf dog food (recalled) at just 38¢ a can—it’s so available! and everybody’s buying it!—who wouldn’t want their kids to get what everybody labels “an education”? Higher ed is seen as opportunity in our […]