Politically speaking, Kansas conjures images of Bob Dole’s crusty but muted Main Street conservatism. But for many decades after anti-slavery militants settled there in the mid-19th Century, Kansas was associated with varieties of ideological radicalism—mainly left-wing populism and socialism, but also prohibitionism and religious zealotry. Yet during the 1990s, as native son Thomas Frank recounts in his lively new book,… return to article
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Reader Comments (3)Page 1 of 1 pagesHi;
I’ve just read your article “There’s No Place Like Home,” as well as Tommy Frank’s new book; “What’s the Matter with Kansas” I agree with Mr. Frank’s conclusion that the Democratic Party has abandoned its working class constitunency for corporate and upper middle class support. However; I would also include Organized Labor among those who take an imperious, arrogant approach towards its members.
We live in an era that places an inordinate value in the “Fallacy of Authority.” If you get the chance, ask your Representative (either Political or Labor) if they read some of the legislation they vote for?
Liberalism failure lies in the fact that it forgets that educating both its followers, and future generations in “HOW” to think is a necessary condition of it’s existence.
Posted by Glenn on Aug 5, 2004 at 2:02 AM Cultural issues apparently count for more than economic issues in Kansas. Therefore the best hope for liberals is to nominate candidates who can take cultural issues “off the table”. It would be interesting to see whether a candidate who was economically progressive (e.g. favors the estate tax) but culturally conservative (e.g. favors as much restriction of abortion as is constitutionally permissible) could win in Kansas. “Massachbusetts-style” liberals (pro- choice, anti-gun, pro-gay) will never win in Kansas, because, given the choice, most voters will put their moral values ahead of their economic interests.
Posted by John F. Bradley on Aug 9, 2004 at 6:35 PM It’s possible that people such as John Bradley confuse “what to think” with “how to think.” In that respect he could just as easily live in Kansas as Massachusetts. Kansas is small town and rural.
The Church is the central organizing scheme here and traditionally is were the economic and welfare issues were discussed and decided. Lately that has come into competition with cable television and shows such as “Jerry Springer” or “Fox News.”
Options are limited out here and farce is easily confused with reality. That includes economic choices also. Walmart pays better then the small family farm, and is frequently the only employer in the neighborhood/community.
Posted by Glenn Dale on Aug 10, 2004 at 5:11 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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