Thomas Frank interview

With Taibbi and Halper from Rolling Stone. A key issue is that we need an intellectual elite to build a just and fair society. Frank, in his latest book and interviews, shows throughout US history it was indeed the progressive populist movements* that reacted against this elitism time and again. And it was during those periods that the US made the greatest advancements toward a more fair and just society. It seems to add validity that the so-called 'wisdom of the crowd' of the unwashed masses somehow manage to get the job done while the enlightened ones do not. Of course they did have FDR as a leader, but a leader that listened to and implemented populist policies.

Frank also explores how the anti-populists--meaning the bankers and big businessmen, and later the professional-managerial class--in both Parties fought fiercely to put down those unwashed populists who had nothing to offer and in fact (in their minds at least) needed to know their place washing dishes etc. and leave the job of governing to the elites. These anti-populists fought against William Jennings Bryan, FDR and more recently Bernie Sanders, again from both sides of the isle.

* Note: The progressive populist movements are distinguished from the authoritarian populist variety that Twitler represents.