Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen
Thomas Frank’s New Book On Elitist Anti-Populism: “The People, NO”
The parties have flipped: It used to be that Republicans were for Wall Street, Democrats were for Main Street. Now the Democrats are seen as the party of the elitists, Republicans are for the common people. On this show Thomas Frank, author of What’s the Matter With Kansas says the causes of the populism of the 1890s, gross economic inequity and concentration of wealth and power, are still relevant. It’s not just about leaders, it’s about mass movements, including labor. After all, WWII heroes were Average Joes, not generals. And while average people agree with liberal positions, they don’t like elitist liberals who think they know better. Why is that and what can be done to address the legitimate grievances, as the party did so effectively under FDR? There are answers.