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I feel a little late joining this discussion. HOwever, I wanted to throw my two cents in (to continue the economic metaphor). As I have listened to the discussion another set of metaphor has occured to me. It seems to me that Susan and Kenna were echoing two distinct "fields" (Bourdieu's meatphor). These two fields have somewhat distinct forms of capital associated with them. different registers, different genres and therefore different orientations to space and time. The field of education has always assisted in the development of cultural and symbolic capital. Of course, these forms of capital can be converted into economic capital. But the field of education has always been distinct from the field of Business in that Business is dedicated to economic capital. Different fields are in constant competition with each other. And right now it seems as if the field of business is appropriating or colonizing much of the discourse ( and therefore ideology of the field of education). In my view serious losses will result for all concerned. The field of education has permitted certain genres of both research and personal development that assist in the development of cultural and symbolic capital. Pure research projects come to mind, for example. The registers and argumentative strategies of much marketing discourse with their emphasis on efficiency and the bottom line simply have a different orientation to time and space (money). For any one in the university system in Canada, the losses are already apparent. Pure research projects are on hold. I know one senior astro-phycist that has had all his projects begun and then cancelled during the last 6 years. Large classes are on the increase in a dramatic way even in fourth year courses. Writing, in particular, is being dramatically affected by these changes. One instructor teaching 160 students in a third year sociology course cannot ask for any serious writing assignments. These changes, many of them, are being justified with the discourse of marketing. In my view, the saddest thing is that we will all be affected even those in the field of business. I find Bourdieu's metaphor of existing in an economy salient, but I also appreciate his insight that different forms of capital and fields exist. He, of course, is very critical of the reproductive capacity of the field of education. But even he admitted that education at least revealed some of the practices associated with cultural and symbolic capital. What I fear most--and I see it happening throughout the US in particular-- is that only children from homes heavily invested in forms of capital will make it into higher education. Also as someone invested in the field of education I value cultural and symbolic capital more than I value ecomonic capital. And I fear even more that only those children from homes invested in economic capital will make it.