We’ve all seen the “United States of Canada and Jesusland” map that’s been making the rounds lately.
Among other things, what struck me about the map is how closely it reflects cultural divisions that have been apparent in the U.S. since at least the late ’70s. I keep coming back to the Nine Nations of North America by Joel Garreau. This book has always struck me as an amazing simplification of some incredibly complex socio-cultural forces at work in our country. And in the wake of Black Tuesday, it seems even more remarkable that this work, originally published almost 25 years ago, could so accurately paint a picture of the U.S. that’s basically akin to that ubiquitous map.
Now Playing: Episode 356
The Republican Convention, Fannie and Freddie go bust, and finally, our international news roundup.
Links Mentioned: Europeans try to placate the Russians … details on the bail-out … a brief history of Fannie and Freddie … Mark Schmitt on Obama’s high-risk, high-reward strategy … Biden tears it up on the trail.
