Elizabeth Warren

Elizabeth Warren

Adult biography
"Betsy babysat and never tired of talking about becoming a
teacher, an idea that riled her mother, who was raised to believe that
women who worked were just unfortunate women who couldn't find a man
and settle down. Pauline couldn't make much headway urging her
daughter to be more girly, to curl her hair once in awhile or play
with makeup. She wanted Betsy to get the ridiculous notion of
teaching out of her head, since no one in her family had finished
college, and besides, a girl's highest goal should be to marry a good
man who would give her financial security..."
Little Betsy did grow up to become a teacher. She also grew up
to become a tenured law school professor, take on Wall Street, and get
elected to the United States Senate. I bet many people reading this
review were crushed when Elizabeth Warren dropped out of this year's
presidential race. I know I was...
...but Warren is very much in the game, a firebrand who has no
trouble fighting for the non rich 95% of us the government and the
industry, and finance hot shots who bankroll their campaigns dismiss
and demonize. How did she go from a little child whose mother wanted
her to act more girly girl and give up on her "crazy" dream of
becoming a teacher to one of the most powerful and controversial women
in this nation?
Antonia Felix's Elizabeth Warren offers a wealth of insight into
this process. It takes readers through the events of Warren's
childhood, law school days, professorships, and political career, set
within the events and influences of the eras in which they happened.
It includes the thoughts of people really close to her at each stage
of her life.
The book's greatest strength lies in its attention to the
evolution of Warren's worldview. She didn't start out as a maverick
and firebrand. At one point she was a registered Republican. She had
faith in the American economy until she became interested in
bankruptcy law, then in the process of being revised, and got
permission to teach a class about it.
"She realized that her fascination with bankruptcy was, to some
extent personal. Having watched her parents suffer and argue through
the hard times that put them on the brink of losing everything, the
fear that rambled through their lives still haunted her. People who
had lost a lot and made a tough choice to get a fresh start were like
kin in a way..."
She became very conflicted. State of the art economics theories
at that time favored companies over consumers. Scholars had no idea
who bankruptcy filers actually were, so were free to make unfounded
assumptions. And there was the example of her own family. They'd
never filed for bankruptcy, even in their most precarious times. Why
couldn't other people be more like them?
Then, as a member of the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, Warren set
out to test the theoretical assumptions under which lawmakers
operated. Analyzing thousands of cases, she realized that bankruptcy
filers were not the cheaters she expected to find.
"...The truth, she found, was that the people who went bankrupt
were driven over the edge financially after losing a job, getting
divorced, or falling ill, and they looked like most of the country..."
Anyone wanting to understand Elizabeth Warren will find the book
to be a fascinating read. Fans will really enjoy the photo album in
the middle of the text.
On a purrrsonal note, I voted. These days I am very glad I am a
reader, not a tv watcher. When I make suppers I hear the ads for
candidates on Eugene's local news shows. They make me think their
writers never got out of middle school. Vote for me because my
opponent is (worst insult they can think of). Give me a break!
Reading does just that.
I will be glad when we replace the bipartisan system and eliminate the
electoral college. I believe if we work diligently towards those
worthy goals they can happen in my lifetime. (Jules)
Oh, my! What will I run for in November? I think I'll go for
household cat and mouser-in-chief. I do have the incumbent
advantage. (Tobago)
A great big shout out to all those who voted safely either by voting
absentee or by wearing masks and social distancing at their polling
places.
Tobago and Jules Hathaway


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