What's the Matter With Kansas?

Wall Street Journal ^ | December 6, 2004 | Steven Malanga

[RWR8189]

Not a thing, it turns out.

Kansas is a reliable "red" state; President Bush carried it by nearly 21% in 2000 and padded his margin to nearly 26% this year. The state's rock-solid support of Mr. Bush and other conservative candidates has sent at least one of its native sons, political commentator Thomas Frank, into paroxysms of rage. In his new book, "What's the Matter With Kansas?," Mr. Frank argues that all those Jayhawk State rubes have got things backward: They've continued to vote Republican as the state goes through economic hardship, even though, by doing so, they're voting against their own economic interests. The book is a big hit with left-leaning commentators and has sold very well, making the author something of a celebrity on the talk-show circuit.

In purple prose, Mr. Frank paints a grim picture of the state and its towns. Kansas is "pretty much in a free fall," he informs us, and as a result of its economic devastation, it's "a civilization in the early stages of irreversible decay." The cause of all this decline, he says, is modern capitalism, especially as practiced by all those businessmen-Republicans. Kansas is "burning on a free-market pyre," he writes. Things are especially bad in his old hometown of Shawnee, where, during his visits, he no longer sees anyone in the streets. Instead, "heaps of rusting junk and snarling rottweilers" blight the landscape.

 

[NMR Guy]

I visited my cousin, who lives on the Kansas side of Kansas City (Lenexa, I think), this summer. There was a *whole* lot of housing construction going on, and the economy seemed to be reasonably sound. I don't know about the rest of the state, as I only got as far west as KU while I was there.

An aside: I grew up poor in San Francisco, and now that I've just finished grad school and have a real job, I finally can afford to take trips to other places. I had never been to the Midwest before... People made fun of me for going on vacation to Kansas City, but I really liked it! The BBQ was great :-p The low cost of housing, compared to the SF Bay Area, was depressing :-) The heat/humidity took a bit of getting use to.

The best part was that there was apparently some election about to happen, and there were signs for Republican candidates everywhere. You just don't see that kind of thing where I'm from...

[Dust in the Wind]

Yeah but (right to carry) you can lay it on your dash or carry it hip or hand; just watch where.

[Sunshine Sister]

Douglas county is liberal as the day is long!

[Just another Joe]

Things are especially bad in his old hometown of Shawnee, where, during his visits, he no longer sees anyone in the streets. Instead, "heaps of rusting junk and snarling rottweilers" blight the landscape.

In SHAWNEE? LOL
Apparently Frank used a time machine to jump ahead to the post apocalyptic era.

[Clemenza]

Dorothy is no longer there...

Yes, but she has many "friends" in San Francisco!

[Sunshine Sister]

Hey congratulations Grandpa!!!!!!!!

[bad company]

Thank you!

[RightWingAtheist]

Not necessarily. I can tell you from personal experience that even the brightest people will avoid applying the same type of rigorous critical thinking they apply on statements they fundamentally disagree with upon those which they do agree with. Even if the facts are totally wrong, they'll say, "well, yes, but the big picture is correct." It's how people like Michael Moore are able to get away with murder.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I lived in Wichita for 3 years 73-76 while in the USAF, I don't remember Douglas County

[Jokelahoma]

Douglas and Wyandotte both, but for different reasons. Douglas because of all the "deep philosophical thinkers" and the University of Kansas (who are just so, so much smarter than the rest of us), and Wyandotte for the government cheese that comes with voting leftie. The rest of the state is solidly conservative.

[Publius6961]

...too many witches and tornadoes?

[axel f]

Glad you had a good time here. The next time you're in Lenexa, drive into Shawnee, which is the city north of Lenexa, and see for yourself just how awful life in Shawnee really is.

[Drennan Whyte]

I don't remember Douglas County.

That's Lawrence and the University of Kansas.

[k omalley]

Our newspaper editors have been pushing this book for all they are worth. The Democrats have been running our state(WV) for years and its economy has been on a continuous downward skid. Now people are waking up and starting to vote more and more Republican and our socialist rag is going into a meltdown.

[KC_Conspirator]

Ana Cox is an total idiot.

I just moved from KC, where is Wonkette from? I thought Frank was from Wichita.

[Non-Sequitur]

The rest of the state is solidly conservative.

But not conservative enough for Kris Kobach.

[Conspiracy Guy]

OK. I've been to Lawrence. The townsfolk seemed normal. Just a college town I guess.

[Sunshine Sister]

Douglas County is where KU is. It's the only blue county in Kansas.

[Semper Paratus]

Ana Cox is an total idiot.

Saw her on CSPAN last week. Good to look at but sounded like Paris Hilton.

[Drennan Whyte]

Wyandotte went blue as well.