Listen, Liberal : Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People?

**From the bestselling author of __What's the Matter With Kansas__, a scathing look at the standard-bearers of liberal politics -- a book that asks: what's the matter with Democrats?** It 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. With his trademark sardonic wit and lacerating logic, Frank's __Listen, Liberal__ lays bare the essence of the Democratic Party's philosophy and how it has changed over the years. A form of corporate and cultural elitism has largely eclipsed the party's old working-class commitment, he finds. For certain favored groups, this has meant prosperity. But for the nation as a whole, it is a one-way ticket into the abyss of inequality. In this critical election year, Frank recalls the Democrats to their historic goals-the only way to reverse the ever-deepening rift between the rich and the poor in America. It 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. With His Trademark Sardonic Wit And Lacerating Logic, Frank Lays Bare The Essence Of The Democratic Party's Philosophy And How It Has Changed Over The Years. A Form Of Corporate And Cultural Elitism Has Largely Eclipsed The Party's Old Working-class Commitment, He Finds. For Certain Favored Groups, This Has Meant Prosperity. But For The Nation As A Whole, It Is A One-way Ticket Into The Abyss Of Inequality. In This Critical Election Year, Frank Recalls The Democrats To Their Historic Goals-the Only Way To Reverse The Ever-deepening Rift Between The Rich And The Poor In America-- Introduction: Listen, Liberal -- Theory Of The Liberal Class -- How Capitalism Got Its Groove Back -- The Economy, Stupid -- Agents Of Change -- It Takes A Democrat -- The Hipster And The Banker Should Be Friends -- How The Crisis Went To Waste -- The Defects Of A Superior Mind -- The Blue State Model -- The Innovation Class -- Liberal Gilt -- Conclusion: Trampling Out The Vineyard. Thomas Frank. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 259-292) And Index.

From the bestselling author of What's the Matter With Kansas, a scathing look at the standard-bearers of liberal politics -- a book that asks: what's the matter with Democrats?

It 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.

With his trademark sardonic wit and lacerating logic, Frank's Listen, Liberal lays bare the essence of the Democratic Party's philosophy and how it has changed over the years. A form of corporate and cultural elitism has largely eclipsed the party's old working-class commitment, he finds. For certain favored groups, this has meant prosperity. But for the nation as a whole, it is a one-way ticket into the abyss of inequality. In this critical election year, Frank recalls the Democrats to their historic goals-the only way to reverse the ever-deepening rift between the rich and the poor in America.

"From the bestselling author of What's the Matter With Kansas, a scathing look at the standard-bearers of liberal politics--a book that asks: what's the matter with Democrats? It 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. With his trademark sardonic wit and lacerating logic, Frank lays bare the essence of the Democratic Party's philosophy and how it has changed over the years. A form of corporate and cultural elitism has largely eclipsed the party's old working-class commitment, he finds. For certain favored groups, this has meant prosperity. But for the nation as a whole, it is a one-way ticket into the abyss of inequality. In this critical election year, Frank recalls the Democrats to their historic goals--the only way to reverse the ever-deepening rift between the rich and the poor in America"-- Provided by publisher "It 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. With his trademark sardonic wit and lacerating logic, Frank lays bare the essence of the Democratic Party's philosophy and how it has changed over the years. A form of corporate and cultural elitism has largely eclipsed the party's old working-class commitment, he finds. For certain favored groups, this has meant prosperity. But for the nation as a whole, it is a one-way ticket into the abyss of inequality. In this critical election year, Frank recalls the Democrats to their historic goals-the only way to reverse the ever-deepening rift between the rich and the poor in America."--Résumé de l'éditeur "It 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, political analyst Thomas 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. Frank's Listen, Liberal lays bare the essence of the Democratic Party's philosophy and how it has changed over the years. A form of corporate and cultural elitism has largely eclipsed the party's old working-class commitment, he finds. For certain favored groups, this has meant prosperity. But for the nation as a whole, it is a one-way ticket into the abyss of inequality" (ed.) Introduction: Listen, Liberal Theory of the Liberal Class How Capitalism Got Its Grove Back The Economy, Stupid Agents of Change It Takes a Democrat The Hipster and the Banker Should Be Friends How the Crisis Went to Waste The Defects of a Superior Mind The Blue State Model The Innovation Class Liberal Gilt Conclusion: Trampling Out the Vineyard Notes Acknowledgments Index Argues that the modern Democratic Party has done little to advance traditional liberal goals, such as expanding opportunity, fighting for social justice, and ensuring that workers get a fair deal, which has accelerated the decline of the middle class and increased the rift between the rich and the poor in America