During the financial crisis and bailouts of 2008, it probably occurred to very few average people that we were entering a period of hardship for billionaires. Thomas Frank averagebailoutsbillionaire Change image and share on social
There is something uniquely depressing about the fact that the National Portrait Gallery's version of the Barack Obama 'Hope' poster previously belonged to a pair of lobbyists. Depressing because Mr. Obama's Washington was not supposed to be the lobbyists' Washington, the place we learned to despise during the last administration. Thomas Frank administrationbarackbelong share on social
In the last James Bond movie, the villain was a culture captain, a tycoon of culture, a Murdoch figure. It's not as if people don't know what is going on. Thomas Frank bondcaptainculture Change image and share on social
For decades Republicans have made policy with a higher purpose in mind: to solidify the GOP base or to damage the institutions and movements aligned with the other side. Thomas Frank alignbasedamage Change image and share on social
Acknowledging class was always difficult for 'New Democrats' - it was second-wave, it was divisive - but 2008 made retro politics cool again. Thomas Frank acknowledgeclasscool Change image and share on social
Privatizing bits of the prison industry was a step in the right direction, but what we didn't have - until recently - were proper instruments for incentivizing the judiciary. That's what the 'kids for cash' judges were apparently experimenting with. Thomas Frank apparentlybitcash share on social
While Democrats fussed with the details of health care reforms, conservatives spent months telling the nation that the real issue is freedom, that what's on the line is American liberty itself. Thomas Frank americancareconservative Change image and share on social
Liberal that I am, I support health-care reform on its merits alone. My liberal blood boils, for example, when I read that half of the personal bankruptcies in this country are brought on, in part, by medical expenses. Thomas Frank bankruptcybloodboil share on social
To be sure, we should all eat right, brush our teeth, and cut down on sweets, but that will hardly help us if we're born with a condition that requires expensive treatment. Thomas Frank bearbrushcondition Change image and share on social
For-profit higher education is today a booming industry, feeding on the student loans handed out to the desperate. Thomas Frank boomdesperateeducation Change image and share on social