July 24, 2004

"Why the Left Left Kansas"

Frank blames the Democratic Party for abandoning the working class, but thinks Kansas voters are self-destructive economically by voting Republican. His attempt to make this a left-right issue is confused.

Truth of the matter is that Kansas voters were never true Democrats.

The confusion arises from the misconception that there are two political movements in this country, Democrat and Republican. But there are actually four.

The four are easy to see by considering two independent positions: (1) Do you believe government should enforce so-called family values (antiabortion, anti-gay marriage)? (2) Do you believe government should be laissez faire to business (antiregulation, pro-business)?

If you answered no to both, then you are a Democrat. If you answered yes to both, then you are a Republican. But what if you split your answers? Libertarians choose "no, yes," while Populists choose "yes, no."

Kansas voters are Populists. They aligned with traditional Democrats economically but with Republicans socially. Like most conflicted voters, they chose based on economics, hence their traditional Democratic support.

Once the Democrats abandoned them economically, they switched because at least Republicans aligned with them on social issues. They are not self-destructive. They just have no choice, just as Ralph Nader says.