David Brooks "No, It's Not About Race"

First, read David Brooks new column in the NY Times.

I wrote him this e-mail, since the column is not accepting comments like it usually does:

Dear David,

Today you say "Money should not be redistributed to those who do not work, and it should not be sucked off by condescending, manipulative elites."

I agree - but I am thinking right now of the 25th ranked hedge fund manager, the one that MPR today said earned $1.4 billion dollars last year. I have no idea if he's condescending, but he is clearly an elite. And I am hard-pressed to think that he works in anything like what producer-class people think is work.

I got my degree in finance over 20 years ago, and had thought I might go into international currency arbitrage. I'm glad I didn't, but I mention that before saying that as far as I can tell, hedge funds are a huge cancer on this nation, far worse than any public-option health plan that might be promulgated, any auto industry bailout, etc.

We all bailed out the financial services industry to a massive tune - and Bush whistled that tune well before Obama took office. I just don't buy this idea that it's the Hollywooders or the Harvard liberals that people are mad at. They're mad about the financial sector bailouts, but through slight of hand their anger has been masterfully redirected towards liberals.

Oh, and not allowing comments on today's column belies the idea that "it's not about race." Rush Limbaugh out there calling for the re-segregation of buses to protect white people is thoroughly egregious. Race matters, as uncomfortable as it makes you, no matter how sweet the scene was on the Mall last weekend that you witnessed (though I do surely believe that individual grace is quite possible).

Kind regards,
[Snowman]