Hey Liberal, Listen Up
The ironies, agonies and hypocrisies in the U.S. political system are in high-relief during a presidential election year. The role of big money undermines the integrity of one person, one vote. The state of the electoral infrastructure is a national embarrassment, long lines, broken machines and purges of voters without their knowledge. In addition the primaries have made abundantly clear: a two-party monopoly snuffs out populist uprisings and credible third party challenges. Working class people are propagandized into voting against their own interests. Indeed, what has happened to the Democrats, the so-called party of the people? Why is the Democratic Party where movements for progressive social change go to die?
Speaker
Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank is a prominent political commentator and the founding editor of The Baffler magazine. He is the author of many books including One Market Under God, What’s the Matter with Kansas? The Wrecking Crew, Pity the Billionaire and Listen, Liberal.
Bear Albrecht –
I had to fix the receiver and heard the middle third of the program while I was working on it. I want to hear the whole thing.
Richard –
Maybe it’s just me . . .
I’m trying to listen with an open mind, but —
I get so annoyed by speakers who say — very condescendingly– “LOOK–” [OK, I admit, our President does the same thing] and also, in Frank’s case, many repetitions of “Right?” [I gave up counting how often he says that]. I want to yell, ‘NO, not “Right”, you smug sonnuvagun! How dare you assume I’m agreeing with you as a captive listener?!” Doesn’t anyone give these people some feedback on things like that?