The latest (April 2004) edition of Harpers Magazine contains a rather good lengthy piece by Thomas Frank entitled "Lie Down For America: How The Republican Party Sows Ruin on the Great Plains" -- perhaps one of the best explanations of why working people are voting against their very own self-interests... and why this is impoverishing them and enriching the few... (This may be available at yøur library)
Rand ReDemocracy http://www.autobuyology.org/car15.html