Missed this one. A month ago, Mother Jones reported something I've always heard talk about, that Tom Friedman is married into one of the richest families in America, the shopping-mall Bucksbaums, whose company has taken a huge hit in the recession.
despite his connection to one of America's richest families, Friedman has always portrayed himself as a champion for the common man...
Friedman has always kept quiet about his relationship to GGP. This is understandable; he's a journalist, after all, and plays no role in the management of the company. But GGP's bankruptcy says something about the way the global economy really works. Friedman's often accused of ignoring that there are both losers and winners in globalization, but now it looks like even his rich in-laws are hurting.
I wish Friedman would talk about his in-laws too (as I do mine), in order to understand the amazing sociology of Jews and WASPs in the late 20th century. And for the sake of transparency/authenticity. Besides, I hear that Friedman's house has a huge carbon footprint. (Oh, missed this too: Matt Taibi's takedown of Friedman, who he says has a 11,400 square foot house. Ouch, says mother earth.)
