Which "What's the Matter With Kansas" do you prefer?

[The Mikado]

Go for it.

[Frodo]

Never heard of or read the first iteration, so I can't judge. 

[Rooney]

William Allen White was pretty much the epitome of the pretentious, Progressive Era journalist. I have not enjoyed much of what White scribed, although he did have some interesting entries into the zeitgeist of American screed . On the other hand, Thomas Frank is the epitome of a modern day pretentious journalist. I have read both of these works and I had to vote for White, though it irks me.

As for Frank's work I detested it. He was haughty and put forward a strange worldview that people need always vote and act for their self-interests and then he has the nerve to call conservative leaning Americans "selfish." People have never and will never vote for their self-interests because the man is far more than an economic creature. The man has a social need and that is what usually directs all voting. A book about this common occurrence since the first ballot was placed into the first ballot box in the days of Ancient Athens did not need to be written.

[Progressive Realist]

Never read White. Frank's book is misleading, even if his writing is enjoyable. Lower income whites are less likely to vote Republican than middle and upper income whites (if you divide the white population into thirds by income), though this gap has been closing in the past few election cycles.

[Lloyd Bentsen's Ghost]

Why isn't the 2009 documentary a choice? It's arguably more accurate and includes a side story of an evangelical church whose congregation is duped by a fly-by-night theme park developer in a Music Man-type investment scheme that fails miserably.

[The Mikado]

Why isn't the 2009 documentary a choice? It's arguably more accurate and includes a side story of an evangelical church whose congregation is duped by a fly-by-night theme park developer in a Music Man-type investment scheme that fails miserably.

Because I hadn't heard of it?  (We need a blush emoticon)

Sounds great, will check it out.

PS: White's original article is only ~4 pages long and on the public domain, and easily found on google.

[Fmr. Emperor PiT]

Why isn't the 2009 documentary a choice? It's arguably more accurate and includes a side story of an evangelical church whose congregation is duped by a fly-by-night theme park developer in a Music Man-type investment scheme that fails miserably.

Because I hadn't heard of it?  (We need a blush emoticon)

Sounds great, will check it out.

PS: White's original article is only ~4 pages long and on the public domain, and easily found on google.

     Who said we don't?