What’s the Matter With Connecticut and Other Kansasian Thoughts

So what is the matter with Connecticut? They have the second highest average income, but they vote for Democrats who would like to take part of that income and redistribute it to others. People like Ann Coulter would make an argument the exact opposite of Frank’s. (Though ironically, both would have to deal with economics.) Conservatives would say that the people of Connecticut, and in fact those of the New England states, are being hoodwinked by Liberals into caring more about the environment and their fellow man than their pocketbooks. Of course this view doesn’t take into account the liberal history/traditions of Connecticut and the rest of the New England states. The thing that most irritates Frank the most is how those in Kansas have forgotten their progressive/populist roots. I do not know too much about Connecticut, but as for the New England states, they have a tradition of an active government promoting the social welfare. Since the traditions in Connecticut were not as disrupted by the Con movement in the 90’s like Kansas was, they still vote the traditions they remember and hold dear. The reason why they probably keep these traditions could be linked to a higher percentage of college and postgraduate degrees.
Moving on…
Backlash mythology, Martyrs, and Antipopes…OH MY! (It is after all Kansas so a Wizard of Oz reference is needed.)
Professor Tofias hates the culture in decline mentality. This idea, however, makes winning people to your side easy. As he stated, most people can remember some part of their childhood that fits the classic stereotype and find something that they miss now. Frank takes this idea actually further, scarier place. It is one thing to believe the past was wonderful, its another thing to reinvent it to fit your purposes. That is what Frank alleges is happening in Kansas. In our history we have seen the past glorified, but people rarely deny the truth (they may gloss over it—but deny it, no). By changing the past, and its meaning the cons in Kansas have created a movement that can not be stopped by almost anything. They are right for their actions today, since their past heroes did the same things before. Normally in politics we have references to the Founding Fathers and other important figures, but those references are usually vague or lofty. This switch to a made up history that demands revival and action today is something that has not been seen before, or at least in such an extent to take over all three branches of government. While Frank goes on about economics, the realization of the backlash mythology, the decline thesis, is more important. In the response we are supposed to read, it supposes that perhaps “cultural” ideas are more important to people than economics. I would have to say the bigger idea is that the “cultural” ideas are not more important, but rather that their conception in people’s mind have changed to force people take action on them. This is why Democrats will have a hard time gaining back all the seats they lost. They only gained roughly 30 on the heels of the war, not because of any renunciation of con values. That is why some are still scratching their heads wondering why they lost, and only now have been given a small majority to work with. The Democrats past accomplishments have been hijacked by the cons and twisted into a way that they are no longer accomplishments. The trick for the Democrats to win in the future will be to either undo or override the backlash mythology that Frank talks about.