Political Science Fortune Cookies

Whenever people open fortune cookies, they always expect to find a small piece of paper inside that has words of wisdom written on it. Last week, I opened a fortune cookie and much to my surprise, there were words of political wisdom written on the slip: "The will of the people is the best law."

The next day, I showed my colleagues the fortune and we briefly discussed how hard it is to determine what the will of the people actually is. Then, after some "serious" collaboration, we came up with a new idea: Political Science Fortune Cookies. So we’re looking for some good ideas for phrases that should be included in a set of Political Science Fortune Cookies. Any suggestions???

I will start with two suggestions:

"If we do not believe in freedom of expression for those we despise we do not believe in it at all."Noam Chomsky

"Type I Error: A generous consolation prize from the data gods just for trying." – Julie VanDusky

About Julie VanDusky-Allen

Julie VanDusky-Allen is at Boise State University and received her PhD in Political Science from Binghamton University in 2011. Her research focuses on institutional choice and development, political parties, the legislative process, and Latin American politics.

4 Replies to “Political Science Fortune Cookies”

  1. I like the Type I error. I think we can devise a few more specific to the discipline.
    Tenure is only in your hands if you want it to be.
    Your next publication will be well cited.
    Every game has more than one player.
    First author does not mean it is solo-authored.
    May your methods be diverse.
    You set your own deadlines.
    I will come up with more…

  2. An agenda setter with enough information can get the outcome he wants.
    To win in Chicken, all you have to do is remove your steering wheel and throw it out the window.
    Liberalism wins.
    A group of rational actors can make irrational decisions.
    “It’s not the voting that’s democracy; it’s the counting.” Tom Stoppard
    “It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong.” Thomas Sowell
    “Democracy gives every man the right to be his own oppressor.” James Russell Lowell

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