A review of "What´s the matter with America? The Resistable Rise of the American Right".
As far
as I understand, this is the European edition of Thomas Frank's book
"What's the matter with Kansas?". Since this is the edition I've
read, I'll review it rather than the US edition. But I suspect both editions
are pretty similar.
The author Thomas Frank attempts to explain two things. First, why do American workers and other low-income people vote Republican rather than Democrat? Indeed, the most extreme Republicans are usually more plebeian than the moderate ones. Second, how come that US radicalism, which was usually left-wing, become right-wing during the Reagan years?
These are two very interesting, indeed decisive issues. However, the author never explains them. He cannot say what's wrong with America. Or Kansas for that matter.
True, the book is entertaining in a sense. The author describes his childhood as a low-income earner in a upper class neighborhood. He gives the bratpack a couple of verbal lashes. I don't doubt that they deserve it. The author also heckles conservative columnists who stereotype "blue staters" and "red staters", pointing out how these stereotypes fly in the face of reality. Frank interviews politicans and activists in Kansas, describes the situation of both native and Mexican workers, and even interviews a strange cult that claims to have elected an anti-Pope.
While all this is funny, it doesn't really explain what the hell´s wrong with the US of A. When all the chips are down, Frank has simply written a mostly-liberal lamentation over his home state.
The author Thomas Frank attempts to explain two things. First, why do American workers and other low-income people vote Republican rather than Democrat? Indeed, the most extreme Republicans are usually more plebeian than the moderate ones. Second, how come that US radicalism, which was usually left-wing, become right-wing during the Reagan years?
These are two very interesting, indeed decisive issues. However, the author never explains them. He cannot say what's wrong with America. Or Kansas for that matter.
True, the book is entertaining in a sense. The author describes his childhood as a low-income earner in a upper class neighborhood. He gives the bratpack a couple of verbal lashes. I don't doubt that they deserve it. The author also heckles conservative columnists who stereotype "blue staters" and "red staters", pointing out how these stereotypes fly in the face of reality. Frank interviews politicans and activists in Kansas, describes the situation of both native and Mexican workers, and even interviews a strange cult that claims to have elected an anti-Pope.
While all this is funny, it doesn't really explain what the hell´s wrong with the US of A. When all the chips are down, Frank has simply written a mostly-liberal lamentation over his home state.
No comments:
Post a Comment