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Thomas Frank on “Listen, Liberal”

ACH003779001.1445399715.580x580It 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.

Thomas Frank is the author of “Pity the Billionaire”, “The Wrecking Crew”, “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”, and “One Market Under God”. A former opinion columnist for “The Wall Street Journal,” Frank is the founding editor of “The Baffler” and a monthly columnist for “Harper’s.” He lives outside Washington, D.C.











When: Tue., Mar. 15, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Where: Book Culture on Columbus
450 Columbus Ave.

Price: Free
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ACH003779001.1445399715.580x580It 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.

Thomas Frank is the author of “Pity the Billionaire”, “The Wrecking Crew”, “What’s the Matter with Kansas?”, and “One Market Under God”. A former opinion columnist for “The Wall Street Journal,” Frank is the founding editor of “The Baffler” and a monthly columnist for “Harper’s.” He lives outside Washington, D.C.

Buy tickets/get more info now