I'm pretty old fashion when it comes to political terms and a "populist" in my mind refers to one focused on improving the lives of the middle (or lower classes).
Best example I know of is Huey Long, Governor of Louisiana back in the 30s. Huey brought in a populist program that drove conservatives into heart attacks, strokes and general forms of spasms. That horrid program? Free text books in public high schools. No wonder the conservatives thought it would be the end of the world!
These days things seem different. Trump is called a populist, but will obviously deliver nothing in that will be a major help to the average person, much less something as dramatic as free textbooks in high schools. Populist for Trump appear to focus on the wealthy, even when it means kicking 24 million Americans off of Medicaid.
So what do you believe that a Populist is these days? Sounds good for elections? Sucker bait or not?
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
Ken777 wrote:I'm pretty old fashion when it comes to political terms and a "populist" in my mind refers to one focused on improving the lives of the middle (or lower classes).
Best example I know of is Huey Long, Governor of Louisiana back in the 30s. Huey brought in a populist program that drove conservatives into heart attacks, strokes and general forms of spasms. That horrid program? Free text books in public high schools. No wonder the conservatives thought it would be the end of the world!
These days things seem different. Trump is called a populist, but will obviously deliver nothing in that will be a major help to the average person, much less something as dramatic as free textbooks in high schools. Populist for Trump appear to focus on the wealthy, even when it means kicking 24 million Americans off of Medicaid.
So what do you believe that a Populist is these days? Sounds good for elections? Sucker bait or not?
A populist is the same now as it ever was. Someone who generally arrives in hard economic times and tells the public that he can fix everything but only if he is given absolute power. They make promises that they can't possibly deliver upon. The sky is no limit for their rhetoric. If they gain power they then claim that they are being undermined by conspiracies; the news media of course becomes a major target (Trump touts the "fake news" Long wanted a "liars tax" on the media while Hitler and Mussolini just shut down the opposition news outlets.) The end result is likely to be a totalitarian state. They are always super nationalistic and see foreigners as the enemy.
Huey Long had a lot more on his agenda than free text books in public high schools. Have you ever read a biography of Huey Long?
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
Huey Long is one of my favorite US politicians ever. He was a total crook, and one of his reelection cycles he ran against an open racist and pretty much said, "it's either a crook, which yall are used to, or a kook."
Probably the closest the US has had to an actual true benevolent dictator.
I know I went off track but I saw Long's name and felt like spreading useless knowledge!
Probably the closest the US has had to an actual true benevolent dictator.
I know I went off track but I saw Long's name and felt like spreading useless knowledge!
-
- Francoflier
- Posts: 6554
- Joined:
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
Populism does not refer to a particular political program or political side, as Saltee said.
It simply describes those who seek the favor of the public opinion and voters by offering simple and often extreme solutions to whichever societal issues are deemed the most serious by a large portion of the population at the time.
In short, a snake oil salesman...
One day that snake oil magically cures the great depression, the other day it cures immigration and healthcare.
It simply describes those who seek the favor of the public opinion and voters by offering simple and often extreme solutions to whichever societal issues are deemed the most serious by a large portion of the population at the time.
In short, a snake oil salesman...
One day that snake oil magically cures the great depression, the other day it cures immigration and healthcare.
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
A populist seeks policies that over 50 percent of people agree with. Harsh immigration enforcement probably raises wages, which have been stagnant or falling for decades, partly due to worker fraud, partly due to trade with poorer countries, some of which cheat on currencies.
Most Americans feel that college and health care cost too much, and they should make more money. In other words, reverse some of the declines of the last 35 years. Populism is supposed to be a pejorative term, but it's funny because by definition, the more popular candidate (at least in terms of electoral votes) wins the election. So populism is another word for the tactics of an election winner, over parties who disagree with the majority.
For another example, global hedge fund people dislike the nationalism of Americans, because they no longer have anything to gain from their citizenship and the country's protections. These hedge funders like Mitt Romney have already become so wealthy and powerful, they say that populism appeals to the "base instincts" of people who are less human that they. As if assembling a fortune over $100 million is not among the basest of instincts!! This attitude really comes from their desire to return to aristocratic authoritarian dictatorship, such as 7-8 more Bush presidencies, or their affiliates, the Clintons, also very conservative anti-populists.
Most Americans feel that college and health care cost too much, and they should make more money. In other words, reverse some of the declines of the last 35 years. Populism is supposed to be a pejorative term, but it's funny because by definition, the more popular candidate (at least in terms of electoral votes) wins the election. So populism is another word for the tactics of an election winner, over parties who disagree with the majority.
For another example, global hedge fund people dislike the nationalism of Americans, because they no longer have anything to gain from their citizenship and the country's protections. These hedge funders like Mitt Romney have already become so wealthy and powerful, they say that populism appeals to the "base instincts" of people who are less human that they. As if assembling a fortune over $100 million is not among the basest of instincts!! This attitude really comes from their desire to return to aristocratic authoritarian dictatorship, such as 7-8 more Bush presidencies, or their affiliates, the Clintons, also very conservative anti-populists.
-
- Dreadnought
- Posts: 10201
- Joined:
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
I think most of us would agree that any powerful central government is run by a political elite comprised of career politicians, entrenched bureaucracies, and lobby groups that use money and connections to influence laws and regulations to favor the groups that back them. They are generally called "The Establishment".
When a political movement that will perpetuate the Establishment's status quo wins, the media calls this Democracy.
When a political movement that threatens the Establishment wins, the media calls this Populism.
When a political movement that will perpetuate the Establishment's status quo wins, the media calls this Democracy.
When a political movement that threatens the Establishment wins, the media calls this Populism.
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
Populism in short is anyone or anything who will promise anything to win over public opinion (to the point where one cannot tell what his/her actual personal and core values are), and who will carry out policies to meet promises that clearly have long term negative impacts, simply for a short term gain (in order to keep public opinion's approval). Populists also tend to inflame underlying or dormant divisions in their society to whip up a majority opinion, regardless of the dangerous consequences of playing with fire near a gas tank.
Which neatly explains just about all governments in the Northern Hemisphere these days, from Manila to Moscow, Washington to Ankara, London to Athens.
Which neatly explains just about all governments in the Northern Hemisphere these days, from Manila to Moscow, Washington to Ankara, London to Athens.
-
- Dreadnought
- Posts: 10201
- Joined:
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
Derico wrote:Populists also tend to inflame underlying or dormant divisions in their society to whip up a majority opinion
So by your definition, Black Lives Matter and all the SJW movements that seek to pit one segment of society against the other are populist?
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
Dreadnought wrote:
So by your definition, Black Lives Matter and all the SJW movements that seek to pit one segment of society against the other are populist?
You mean like the Tea Party?
Re: What is a "populist" these days?
Francoflier wrote:Populism does not refer to a particular political program or political side, as Saltee said.
It simply describes those who seek the favor of the public opinion and voters by offering simple and often extreme solutions to whichever societal issues are deemed the most serious by a large portion of the population at the time.
I believe that there are two core issues. The first is to genuinely believe that we as a nation benefit from programs like free textbooks in high schools and should do it.
The other is that there are politicians who genuinely want the "working man" to believe that those politicians are "populists" when every knows that those politicians are going to be lap dogs for the wealthy individuals and companies.
The issue for normal people is that a genuinely populist approach to government would be in our interests, as well as our kids and grandkids. Sadly the big bucks from the Billionaire Boys Club will determine how costly will be. Sad.
-
- 11725Flyer
- Posts: 1499
- Joined:
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 56 guests