Wie wordt er wakker? Trump, links, Oekraïne, desinformatie en meer volgens Ewald Engelen | #1792

In 'The March of Folly', Barbara W. Tuchman explores the concept of folly in historical contexts, defining it as the pursuit by governments of policies that are clearly contrary to their own interests. She examines four major cases: the Trojans' decision to bring the Greek horse into their city, the failure of the Renaissance popes to address the factors leading to the Protestant Reformation, England's policies that led to the loss of the American colonies, and the United States' mishandling of the Vietnam War. Tuchman's work highlights the recurring themes of arrogance, ignorance, short-term political calculations, and an inability to recognize when a situation has become hopeless[3][4][5].

In 'Listen, Liberal', Thomas Frank argues that the Democratic Party has abandoned its historic commitment to the working and middle classes, instead aligning itself with the interests of the professional class. Frank contends that this shift has led to increased economic inequality, as policies favoring Wall Street and corporate interests have become more prevalent. He criticizes Democratic presidents such as Bill Clinton and Barack Obama for their adherence to free-market policies and their reliance on advice from Ivy League-educated elites. The book also discusses the 2016 presidential election and how the Democratic Party's failure to address economic inequality contributed to the rise of populist candidates like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.

In this book, Thomas Frank explores the transformation of Kansas from a state with a radical past to a stronghold of conservative politics. He argues that the culture wars have allowed the Republican Party to capture the populist language of social class, presenting themselves as the embodiment of working-class anti-elitism. Frank analyzes how conservatism, once associated with class privilege, became the creed of many ordinary Americans, particularly in Kansas, where workers and farmers support policies that often harm their own economic interests. The book critiques the role of the Democratic Party in neglecting its traditional support base, such as organized labor, and how this neglect has contributed to the rise of conservative politics[1][2][4].