This year, I decided to purchase two books by author Thomas Frank: What’s the Matter with Kansas (2004) and Listen, Liberal (2016). I finished the first and I just started reading the second. I want to finish that one as quickly as possible, but I am just taken aback by what I’ve read so far.
Now, I am a person who does her best to think for herself, but the first book has changed my perspective on some level. Don’t worry … I haven’t changed how I feel about humanity — that is, I have not abandoned my faith or expectations in humanity. But the book has somewhat altered the way in which I see some of my “opponents,” as far as political debating goes.
In these two books, Frank dissects what he sees from the two major political parties: the Republicans and the Democrats, respectively. And he still does not like what he sees. His criticism isn’t really aimed at the voters but the leaders of the parties and how they use rhetoric, culture wars, and policy to pull voters toward one side — or completely drive them away.
What’s the Matter with Kansas? is so good in fact, that I would like to share some quotes from it sometime in the future. I would also like to share some quotes from Listen, Liberal after I get finished with it.
In the meantime, I have a lot of research to do for a bunch of posts, but I would like to leave you with a scan.
I plan on taking this picture and doing some lineart in Photoshop. If all goes well, this should be a pretty good composition.
Shmaltz and Menudo 