Populism: Why can't we use it?

[peggysue2]

12. Because populism is fraught with unintended consequences

Although I understand the temptation to fight fire with fire (a populist message), I do not think that was the factor pushing the Trumpster over the electoral college threshold. He had outside, foreign help and still lost the popular vote.

Populism and/or pie-the-sky politics often leads to mob rule and extreme policy directives that end up disastrous for everyone. History teaches that grim lesson. The Trumpster's 'Build a Wall' was a clear dog whistle that has now morphed into hideous immigration policies (no tolerance for POC) as well as child kidnapping and abuse. Now the Trumpster and the odious Miller are turning their attention to reduce legal immigration, the lifeblood of the country. This appeals only to the bigots, masking their prejudice in the American flag.

The Trumpster's/Republican messaging is in direct opposition to American values. Democrats do not need to reinvent the wheel to be successful. Instead, we need to embrace Democratic/American values--increased opportunity and access for everyone be it in the workplace, healthcare, education, etc. and insist on national security, as in stopping foreign intrusion into our domestic elections. To oppose that is UnAmerican, even traitorous.

Making unrealistic promises to the public only ensures more bad faith in effective government, something we need to staunch and turn the other way because good government works in behalf of all citizens, not simply the entitled few. The Trumpster and his acolytes are attempting to turn our basic institutions into the enemy. We need to push back hard on that effort and messaging.

There are some Americans we will simply never reach. We need to accept that. We need to target those who still believe in the country, in its core definition, and then--with their votes-- are willing to rein in an out-of-control Administration and a Republican Congress refusing to hold the line.