Harvard Sticks Its Neck Out - Will Others Also Do That to Support the Resistance?

 The future of Harvard, founded in 1636, is in play. The institution's economic survival is threatened by the Trump administration because it refuses to comply with the mandates. Its $50 billion endowment will only go so far. It takes a lot of money to run that kind of pillar of higher education and research.

Much depends on if Harvard can gain support in its defiant stance. The Wall Street Journal reports: 

"Now that Harvard has stuck its neck out, it is waiting for support. The institution is working with Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm with close ties to Trump that the university hired earlier this year. It is also leaning on its own team in Washington to reach out to potentially sympathetic Republicans in the administration or in Congress who might be willing to help ..."

Another elite institution - the Paul Weiss law firm - also anticipated solidarity when hit with an Executive Order issued by the administration. Given the unique structure of that business, the firm could have collapsed immediately if the EO stayed in place. But, no, the cavalry didn't ride in. In response to the no-response the chair Brad Karp went personally to the oval office to cut a deal with Donald Trump. 

So, here we are. Has Harvard's almost sacred status made it naive in envisioning that others will risk their own funding and more to stand with it? 

Of course, the current administration is a kind of political machine. Those thrived in urban areas with economies of scarcity. In the early and mid 20th century that's how the Frank Hague machine had such control of Hudson County, New Jersey. Hague himself was quoted as saying, "I am the law." Those who hoped to work didn't go up against that system. I grew up in the residue of that. The prevailing ethos was economic fear. 

The resistance makes for headlines. But those don't necessarily move the dial on enlisting support from those whose economic survival is at risk. 

Paul Weiss learned a harsh lesson. Will Harvard also?

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