Is populism really the villain here?

By HSG on Sat, 03/10/2018 - 8:24am |

E.J. Dionne gets it.

URL:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-populism-really-the-villain-here/2018/03/07/de923c24-224a-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html?utm_term=.c4be66e359d3

2569 reads

Comments

Angry dissidence doesn’t arise by accident. It is typically a response to genuine failures and injustices. The best way to combat the populists’ excesses is to deal with the discontents to which they give voice.

by HSG on Sat, 03/10/2018 - 8:25am

The biggest mistake that comes from using "populism" as a description of political movements is when it treats an established culture of power and privilege as if it were an emerging phenomenon, touched for the very first time.

For example, Huey Long's call to redistribute wealth was a "populist" appeal because it proposed giving a new power to those who had none. The identity politics of MAGA is all about the last word, "again." The people who now call out for representation fear they are losing the rights and privileges their parents enjoyed. They didn't talk about it much back when they were certain that nothing would change it.

by moat on Sat, 03/10/2018 - 9:28am

Trying to redefine the meaning of these words just makes you look confused and desperate. Redistributing wealth is and will always be a commie idea while a populist would look for ways to improve peoples earnings from work not the dole. Identity politics is another invention of the left so don't try to smear good people with that divisive branding.

by Peter (not verified) on Sat, 03/10/2018 - 10:59am

Replay all of the Trump speeches in his rallies where he used the word "we" and then get back to me and explain what "divisive" means.

by moat on Sat, 03/10/2018 - 11:34am

Is populism really the villain here?

Comments

Sections

Bloggers