What's the Matter with Thomas Frank? He's an Elitist Prick

In his 2004 book What’s the Matter with Kansas? liberal author Thomas Frank offered the following explanation for conservative dominance of Middle America: Conservatives trick people into voting against their own economic interests by shifting the debate to social issues like abortion and gay marriage. Frank's thesis has become gospel among the liberal chattering classes. It gets repeated daily at places like The New York Times, Slate Magazine, and The Huffington Post.

Thomas Frank is a delusional and condescending prick. In his eyes, the economic benefits of Big Government are so obvious that social issues are the only possible explanation for conservative majorities. That is simply not true. Conservatives can point to a mountain of evidence to support their argument that Big Government hinders economic growth. Many people vote for conservatives because they believe it will benefit the economy.

Frank's thesis says a lot about how liberal elites view the common people they claim to represent. This Washington-based journalist believes that voters in his home state of Kansas are oblivious to their own economic well-being. It’s a recurring theme among liberal intellectuals: The root cause of resistance to liberal policies are the irrational fears and prejudices of "red state" voters (homophobia, racism, sexism, xenophobia, paranoia, and superstition). In the words of Barack Obama, people are "clinging to guns and religion" instead of embracing the Left's plan for economic progress. Liberals' concern for the common man often masks a deep-seated contempt for the common man. They see average people as idiots and suckers who are incapable of thinking for themselves or acting in their own best interests.

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