Review: What’s the Matter with Kansas?

What’s the Matter with Kansas is Thomas Frank’s attempt at understanding why so many people are voting against their economic interests.

Frank builds a compelling argument which essentially boils down to Values: By focusing on value issues such as prayer in schools, abortion, and gun ownership, neo-conservatives are framing the political discussion in such a way that economical issues are marginalized. This is compounded by a Weltanschauung of victimization in which “real” Americans are being hounded and persecuted by a shadowy, condescending liberal elite that, apparently, for some reason hates America and all that is Good and Just.

The book is well worth reading for anybody who wants to understand the current political climate. It is also very depressing.