AUT: Re: Cornel West

[Katha Pollitt <kpollitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I thought people might be interested in Cornel West's latest move to the
right.  He's co-author (with economist sylvia ann Hewlett) of  an
upcoming book, "The War Against Parents," which  calls for , among other
things a three year waiting period for divorce, "covenant marriage," ( a
legal contract in which couples bind themselves to stay married), and
pro-marriage bias in govt poverty programs: for instance, reserving half
of all public housing slots and section 8 vouchers for married  couples.
   West has kind words for the promisekeepers and the Nation of Islam,
which are presented as places of "refuge" for fathers, against whom the
culture is at war. He  also like David Blankenhorn, ("Fatherless
America") whose Institute for American Values promotes right-wing family
values ideas (stricter divorce laws, for ex) and blames feminism for the
"decline of the family." West claims "radical feminists" hate marriage
(where are they?)  and says "the left" dislikes children.
  Of course, there are the regulation social-democratic calls for
national health insurance, day care etc.  But since these programs cost
billions and  cutting single mothers out of public housing is free,
guess which proposals will get a boost from this book?


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