The Great Divide: Retro vs. Metro America

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

My apologies if this has already been thoroughly discussed on DU. Ian Master's outstanding radio show "Background Briefings" on Pacifica Radio in Los Angeles had John Sperling on today. Sterling is considered one of the nation's most successful entrepreneurs and the founder of the University of Phoenix. Sterling's book with the same title as my post was published before the GOP Convention and mentions the very factors that seem to have determined the 2004 election (unless voter fraud was at work, of course).

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040824/dctu030_1.html

Some of the more interesting points in the book:

"...The Republican Party has taken advantage of flaws in the outdated electoral college system, as well as constitutional guarantees given small states two centuries ago, to build a powerful base even as the Retro population shrinks. In 2004, 13 small states in Retro America with a combined population of just over 18 million had electoral college voting power equal to California, with its 34 million residents. A "Retro" minority is effectively running roughshod on the values and agenda of the Metro majority who live in more urban, economically prosperous, and culturally diverse Metro urban-suburban areas..."

"...Metro America, on the other hand, is the nation's engine of economic growth and innovation. It has two-thirds of the country's population, mostly urban and suburban. Some Metro states have important agricultural sectors, but their real growth is in financial and other service industries, which alone account for 41% of the nation's total gross domestic product, as well as in major manufacturing. More than 80% of all high technology jobs are in Metro America, and Metro America residents pay the taxes that subsidize Retro states. In the 10-year period between 1991-2001, nearly $1.7 trillion in federal tax transfers went from Metro America to Retro America. Ironically, Retro America politicians frequently speak against government spending and taxation, even as they work to preserve this skewed status quo..."

"...Retro states are dependent on subsidy-heavy industries and federally supported military installations. These interests today are looked after by some 53 members of the Bush Administration who have close ties to the energy and other extraction industries of Retro America. Dozens of additional political appointees are similarly connected, as are at least ten Congressional committee chairs and ranking members. The political clout of Retro states cannot be overstated. This industrial base of Retro America is a remnant of America's old economy, with little potential for growth. The nation's recent economic innovation and progress is taking place almost exclusively in Metro America, which also bears the tax burden that provides welfare payments to Retro America..."

[Bluebear]

1. Do you know, was this book marketed in USA Today with just pictures?

"retro" vs "metro", showing a picture for each? Because if it was, it completely passed me by. I thought it was some kind of slam campaign against the left, calling us "metrosexuals" or something.

[FullCountNotRecount]

2. They'll say Metro versus Hetero

couldn't resist that.

[Lindsay]

3. The "Metro versus Retro" phrase

is catchy but I agree that it sounded to me like another Metrosexual reference, and that's not a good thing.

The subject matter is viable, but there's got to be a better way to frame it.

[Bluebear]

4. I think the author totally mismarketed his book

Starting with the title. Reading about it now, I must check it out.