Dr. Kenneth Hicks, associate professor and department head of the History and Political Science Department at Rogers State University, will review the book, “The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule,” by Thomas Frank on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the RSU Stratton Taylor Library.
The review, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 3 p.m. in room 207 of the Stratton Taylor Library, refreshments are provided. The review is part of the library’s Literary Review Series.
“I picked Frank’s book because his first book, ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas?’ was very well received and had a bit of a regional flavor. This book, ‘The Wrecking Crew’ is a somewhat more sustained critique of the current leadership of the conservative movement. I have always found Frank to be an engaging and entertaining polemicist,” Hicks said.
In his previous book, Frank explained why working America votes for politicians who reserve their favors for the rich. Now, in “The Wrecking Crew,” Frank examines the blundering and corrupt Washington those politicians have given us.
Casting back to the early days of the conservative revolution, Frank describes in his most recent book the rise of a ruling coalition dedicated to dismantling government. But rather than cutting down the big government they claim to hate, conservatives have simply sold it off, deregulating some industries, de-funding others, but always turning public policy into a private-sector bidding war.
Hicks’ academic specialties include government, international studies and media and politics. He’s received a doctoral and master’s degree in political theory and international relations theory from the University of South Carolina, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from West Georgia College (now State University of West Georgia).
More information is available by contacting the RSU Stratton Taylor Library at 343-7716.