> Why is it inherently bad that university faculty lean left?

For one thing it loses the support of the other half of the country to fund and support higher education. People tend not to donate to or vote for institutions that they see as in opposition to their values. And they tend to discount the value of their degrees when hiring.

Sure, but you can argue the same thing about anything where there isn’t equality of outcomes.

Have we considered the reason might be self (de)selection? Perhaps people who see the world certain ways do (not) desire a life in academics.