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A review by kwheeles
Listen, Liberal: Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People? by Thomas Frank
5.0
Well constructed, compelling, highly-opinionated argument that the US Democratic Party has lost its way. That is has gone from FDR's people's party to a focus on the technocratic/meritocratic elite. That it has lost its concern regard for the overarching topic of inequality (especially that of income inequality) to cater to the professional class. From the diner to Davos. From unions to Uber.
Bill Clinton's tragic push for mass incarceration, gutting of welfare, neoliberal policies, and disregard for income inequality. Barack Obama's technocratic neoliberalism and academic professionalism.
The book accurately and persuasively addresses the changes in the capital/labor dynamic - with crippled anti-trust policy bringing in a new gilded age; and labor union decline and government policy weakness stripping labor's power. Atomic labor forced to accept smaller and smaller assignments served up efficiently via information technology improvements that benefit capital. "Innovation" in many cases delivering the same services - but cheaper by ignoring existing regulatory frameworks (Uber, AirBnB). Those regulatory frameworks were established for a reason ("never take down a fence until you know why someone put it there").
Very thought-provoking. Great stuff.
Bill Clinton's tragic push for mass incarceration, gutting of welfare, neoliberal policies, and disregard for income inequality. Barack Obama's technocratic neoliberalism and academic professionalism.
The book accurately and persuasively addresses the changes in the capital/labor dynamic - with crippled anti-trust policy bringing in a new gilded age; and labor union decline and government policy weakness stripping labor's power. Atomic labor forced to accept smaller and smaller assignments served up efficiently via information technology improvements that benefit capital. "Innovation" in many cases delivering the same services - but cheaper by ignoring existing regulatory frameworks (Uber, AirBnB). Those regulatory frameworks were established for a reason ("never take down a fence until you know why someone put it there").
Very thought-provoking. Great stuff.