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Is it possible that in the distant future, President George W. Bush, the 43rd president, might be viewed as one of the greatest American Presidents?

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Putnam: Afraid to Publish Research?

Comment comment by Anonymous on 26 July 2007

Why be afraid of the truth? Also, why is he optimistic for the future, when his 5-year long research has pointed the opposite direction of his optimism? If I did research on hurricanes for the past 20 years and said that this year I am optimistic we will have NO hurricanes, you would think I am crazy, right? So, why doesn't Putnam just say: diversity is not uniting us, but reducing our "social capital." Sounds like common sense to me! A homogenous community is more likely to be united and sharing social capital. Groups with different religions, dress, and language are not likely to be getting together for much. My Muslim and Jewish coworkers are not coming to my Cuban coworkers pig-roast come Dec. 24, that's for sure!

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RE: Putnam: Afraid to Publish Research? by scottb :: NR7

The research does show that the effects are short and medium term. Eventually they go away, so that's something to view positively.

In the long run, his research shows that diversity does increase our "social capital".

It's the expectation of responses like yours that he fears. The thought that people would misunderstand his research as justifying a disregard for diversity.

Posted 26 July 2007, Hide, Parent, Reply