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.)
