Beware the Blue State Model: How the Democrats Created a "Liberalism of the Rich"

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7. Disagree With His Premise

I disagree with his premise that Boston Democrats were not forced to do the things they did by Republican politicians. Thomas Frank's position might be true if Boston was in a world all by its self. However, that is not the case. Boston Democrats had to deal with Southern Republicans. If Democrats had not worked hand-in-hand with "high finance and big pharma" those industries could have gone South and gotten better deals. In that case there would have been even more job lose and pain for Boston residents.

The real problem is that businesses learned they could pits cities and states against each other. When that happened business were able to ask for tax breaks they did not need, but states were reluctant to deny because it was know the business could move to another city or state. As a result there were Democratic leaders making deal with businesses in order to keep the businesses and the much needed jobs in cities and states. So, even the hands of Boston Democrats were forced.