What's Wrong With Kansas?

That's the title of a new book by Thomas Frank wherein he argues that the working class has abandoned its own interests in order to vote on cultural issues. He believes that the reason that traditionally liberal working class populations are voting Republican is because they feel more strongly about issues like abortion and gay marriage than they do about labour unions.

Why do they feel this way? He argues that it's because the Democrats have completely abandoned the social agenda of the New Deal. Clinton signed NAFTA, deregulated the communications industry, neutered anti-trust controls and more. The Dems finally realized how to play the game, it seems, which means abandoning their base.

So, what's a liberal base to do? Vote on issues it thinks it can affect. The Republicans have proved to be very adept at playing this new game of political small ball. The Dems need to adapt again.