Listen, Liberal - Thomas Frank

Listen, Liberal

By Thomas Frank

  • Release Date: 2016-03-15
  • Genre: Political Science
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 47 Ratings

Description

From the bestselling author of What's the Matter With Kansas, a scathing look at the standard-bearers of liberal politics -- a book that asks: what's the matter with Democrats?

It is a widespread belief among liberals that if only Democrats can continue to dominate national elections, if only those awful Republicans are beaten into submission, the country will be on the right course.

But this is to fundamentally misunderstand the modern Democratic Party. Drawing on years of research and first-hand reporting, Frank points out that the Democrats have done little to advance traditional liberal goals: expanding opportunity, fighting for social justice, and ensuring that workers get a fair deal. Indeed, they have scarcely dented the free-market consensus at all. This is not for lack of opportunity: Democrats have occupied the White House for sixteen of the last twenty-four years, and yet the decline of the middle class has only accelerated. Wall Street gets its bailouts, wages keep falling, and the free-trade deals keep coming.

With his trademark sardonic wit and lacerating logic, Frank's Listen, Liberal lays bare the essence of the Democratic Party's philosophy and how it has changed over the years. A form of corporate and cultural elitism has largely eclipsed the party's old working-class commitment, he finds. For certain favored groups, this has meant prosperity. But for the nation as a whole, it is a one-way ticket into the abyss of inequality. In this critical election year, Frank recalls the Democrats to their historic goals-the only way to reverse the ever-deepening rift between the rich and the poor in America.

Reviews

  • Dumb

    1
    By Math Idiot
    Just a bunch of clap back to conservatives. Same level of study has "proved" Jesus rode a dinosaur. Waste of time for folks who are just seeking half truths or outright lies to feel good about bashing the left.
  • Valid criticism turns insane

    2
    By WC_Steve
    Each party has its faults and this book starts off with some valid criticism of the Democratic Party. Unfortunately it goes down hill fast after the first 50 pages. While offering no suggestions to improve the party, the author plays Monday morning quarterback and acts like a 6 year old blaming everyone for "bad" decisions made by the party elite. It actually becomes unreadable at the end. In summary, there should be a major focus on the wage gap but the author doesn't want any help from the fake liberals of the professional class or the party elite, rich democrats or the creative class democrats or those in technology, etc. Sure, let's exclude people from the party. Yeah, good luck with that.
  • Predicts Nov. '16 Election

    5
    By Trdtme
    Whether you like what he says or not, whether you like the author or not, Frank's book predicted the Nov '16 Election. This book should be required reading for the reformers (hopefully) of the Democratic Party .... and for all Democrats and Republicans who are dismayed and terrified about the near-term political future and the long-term prospects for our country.
  • Listen liberal

    4
    By Arietellus
    Very good book. After Chapter 6, however, the access to the footnotes fails. That needs to be fixed, and I would like it fixed in my copy! Can that be arranged?