I'm no expert on the psyche of the middle American populist, but I'd say that while the rest of the article has something true and important about it, something's gone off track here. In my experience folks who generally don't like large established institutions and their privileged white-collar employees aren't too keen on banks, oil companies etc. either. And a good thing for the Democrats too, because otherwise that would be quite the dilemma they faced: pursue policy-wonkish solutions to social problems that appeal to the educated? Clueless elitists! Pull a 180 and try to channel mass populist resentment? Clueless elitists! It would be a wonder they ever won elections at all.