Populism in America

[jokerman]

An interesting blog post by Walter Russell Mead

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[Beet]

Nothing new; it could have been said in the 1970s.

[jokerman]

Nothing new; it could have been said in the 1970s.

It could have been said in the 1930s, but it isn't.  I do recall Thomas Frank talks about it in What's The Matter with Kansas? but he doesn't really grasp the comprehensive phenomenon.

[Beet]

Nothing new; it could have been said in the 1970s.

It could have been said in the 1930s, but it isn't.  I do recall Thomas Frank talks about it in What's The Matter with Kansas? but he doesn't really grasp the comprehensive phenomenon.

The difference is that it was said about the 1970s, well before the present populism. This is just a rehash of an old old meme that has been going around since the author's heydey. He's just looking at something new and recycling a concept that he's known for a long time to analyze it.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Its pretty obvious and isn't original... but that doesn't mean that it isn't a worthwhile observation. There's quite a lot to criticise in the details, but the fundamental point is sound.

[Linus Van Pelt]

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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.