Introduction
What is the matter with Kansas is a book written by Thomas Frank which is entirely about the politics of Kansa state. The author who is a native of Kansas takes the opportunity to launch a scathing attack on the perceived mismanagement of the state’s politics and governance which he blames on the ideology of the conservatives. However, the author consequently points the finger of blame on the native citizens of the states for their ignorance and refusal to use their voting rights to bring about the change they desire. Frank Thomas through the book also talks of the failure of the democrats to change strategy and save the state from the plight of the conservatives. At the center of the book is the issue of morality which carries the day in the state’s politics at the expense of economic and environmental issues. The author, therefore, finds fault with the way the native citizens of the state have failed to elect leaders who can bring about quality governance.
Republican Policies
According to the book, the problems of the state have been attributed to the policies of the republicans. The author singles out the major aspects of the Republican Party policies most of which favor the rich. The poor and common citizens end up being losers in the long run. The states leaning towards the Republican Party at the expense of the democrats and other political affiliations have been cited as the biggest blow to the development of the state. In fact, the author goes to the level of alleging that the conservatives have tricked the people of Kansas. Specifically, he cites the use of morality and culture as an electoral issue instead of the economic and business issues. According to the book, this has been the major failure of the state since they consistently vote for leaders who cannot deliver on the most pertinent issues that affect them.
Failure of the Democrats
The democrats’ failure to change strategy so as to win the election and deliver the state from the bondage of conservatism has been expressed in the book. According to the book, the democrats ought to focus more on the economic aspects so as to get rid of the Republican monopoly in the state. The author cites the futile strategy of the democrats for their failure to be appealing to the electorate. The dominance and establishment of the republicans is the main political issue affecting the state of Kansas (Frank 121). In fact, in the book, the author seems to be advocating for the removal of the republicans by all means so as to get the state on its wheels again. The most credible contender in the state apart from the Republicans is the democrats. The author, therefore, admonishes the democrats to alter their approach to the electorate so as to dismantle the Republican cult.
Moral Issues
The primary obsession and dominance of cultural and moral issues in state politics is a major hindrance to its development. According to the book, the issues that ought to take center stage are the economic and environmental ones rather than the moral ones. This is the position that has enabled the Republicans to hold the state at ransom. Actually, the republicans use the moral plank in their campaigns and no wonder little is done about the state’s economic and environmental empowerment. The author prescribes a replacement of focus by the electorate from moral to economic. The book advocates that a voter should only vote for a leader who will lead to an improvement in his/her life. The abstract promises of conservatism, morality, and culture have kept the state in darkness for a long time.
Conclusion
What the matter with Kansas is a book about the plight of Kansas politics. It has been written by Thomson Frank who happens to be a native Kansan. The book is specifically dedicated to the political and economic woes of the poor state. The dominance of the republicans is cited as one of the greatest challenges of the polity bearing in mind that the policies of the republicans only favor the elite, rich and powerful. The failure of the democrats to change tact and take over the leadership so as to deliver the state from political and economic mess has been explained well. The author advocates for a shift of perception from moral issues to economic and environmental issues. This is the opinion of the author that will bring about the much-desired change. The book is a good analysis and interpretation of the state of Kansas.
References
Frank Thomas. What’s the matter with Kansas?: how conservatives won the heart of America. Kansas: Henry Holt, 2005.