General Discussion

Oneironaut

(6,176 posts)

49. Because. imo, populism is a sham. It's exploitative and stupid.

Wed Aug 8, 2018, 06:16 PM

Aug 2018

Populism isn't just about offering people help. It's about exploiting a populace's greatest fears, dividing society into "us vs. them," and making promises you know you can't keep. It's a cheap form of gutter politics meant to get the votes of the ignorant and uninformed.

Populism and the Democratic Party's mission are mutually exclusive. We do not act as carnival barkers. I would not want to be in a party that stoops to that level.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

63 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Populism: Why can't we use it? [View all] ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 OP

why? Almost always framed incorrectly beachbum bob Aug 2018 #1

But That Sold Didn't It ProfessorGAC Aug 2018 #5

It didn't sell, it stole. MrsCoffee Aug 2018 #7

Got Enough People To Buy It, To Make It Close Enough... ProfessorGAC Aug 2018 #19

It's 2018. We've had 2 years to acquaint ourselves with the dynamics of 2016 and yet .. JHan Aug 2018 #10

+1000 brer cat Aug 2018 #16

Yes, and Populists always need an enemy, because populism thrives on emotional angst. JHan Aug 2018 #23

That's Not What I Said ProfessorGAC Aug 2018 #20

I also explained the noise surrounding the election and how our narratives become twisted.. JHan Aug 2018 #21

Not Arguing That ProfessorGAC Aug 2018 #26

never said messaging was not important.. it is simply overstated. JHan Aug 2018 #30

the problem with all of trumps lies was hillary should have looked at him in the eyes and pointed beachbum bob Aug 2018 #17

I Wish She Had, Too ProfessorGAC Aug 2018 #18

So you think that "Democratic establishment elite" are afraid of "corporate donors" ehrnst Aug 2018 #2

Populism is a horrific canard deceptively used to win elections. NCTraveler Aug 2018 #3

This... Wounded Bear Aug 2018 #4

The near fascist current Italian government is "populist"! Fucking media wordmasters are Fred Sanders Aug 2018 #13

+1000 ehrnst Aug 2018 #9

The candidates who win are those who the people want. George II Aug 2018 #6

When a candidate doesn't think that the population has the smarts or education ehrnst Aug 2018 #8

"The key to winning elections is getting more votes than one's opponent." NurseJackie Aug 2018 #11

Because populism is fraught with unintended consequences peggysue2 Aug 2018 #12

I don't think it is pie-in-the-sky to return to New Deal policies that work ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #15

Populism is more than promising to "help" people. MineralMan Aug 2018 #14

Populism is how Millennial political power is going to be expressed. wonkwest Aug 2018 #22

I'm a millennial and I cannot relate to any of this. JHan Aug 2018 #24

Let me just throw out a stat to bolster my point wonkwest Aug 2018 #29

Actually as I recall it was 18-26... but I'll bite.. JHan Aug 2018 #33

Generalizations exist for a reason wonkwest Aug 2018 #38

Yes people were duped. folks get duped all the time. JHan Aug 2018 #40

You're assuming that the political philosophy of people remains static lapucelle Aug 2018 #51

Anyone who was 21+ will be out of that voting bloc by 2020. George II Aug 2018 #56

It surprised me too ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #32

Like playing with wildfire. Populist leaders are rabblerousers Hortensis Aug 2018 #25

Shhhhh...we don't want to scare the moderates. HopeAgain Aug 2018 #27

You mean trying to help a candidate win a gubernatorial primary in Michigan who could never win Demsrule86 Aug 2018 #62

Because in populism there is an us and a them DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2018 #28

As in real life ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #34

Those are liberal not populist. DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2018 #35

FDR was accused of being a demogogue ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #37

He was accused of a lot of things but he was a liberal who saved capitalism from itself. DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2018 #39

I'd be more than happy to support that again. ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #41

Sure those are "US" policies, but.... George II Aug 2018 #42

Yes!! peggysue2 Aug 2018 #36

I was thinking good old fashioned demagoguery exboyfil Aug 2018 #31

It seems we've forgotten that the biggest populist movement in America was the KKK JHan Aug 2018 #43

+1 betsuni Aug 2018 #44

+10000 nt brer cat Aug 2018 #46

What you said, JHan Hekate Aug 2018 #61

The term has been tainted by too many authoritarians. VOX Aug 2018 #45

Populism is nationalism in a different guise. GulfCoast66 Aug 2018 #47

Because it is always white supremacism dressed up as class consciousness Recursion Aug 2018 #48

Because. imo, populism is a sham. It's exploitative and stupid. Oneironaut Aug 2018 #49

I think most of you are confusing ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #50

Well, there was Henry Wallace, Roosevelt's last Vice President, right? raging moderate Aug 2018 #54

Trump voters keep saying that Hillary Clinton had no plans. raging moderate Aug 2018 #58

Down Goes Socialism Gothmog Aug 2018 #52

+1000. (nt) ehrnst Aug 2018 #53

I'm beginning to think the support of Our Revolution does more harm than good. George II Aug 2018 #57

Agreed-these two candidates opposed by Our Revolution are the face of the Democratic party Gothmog Aug 2018 #60

Because at its core it's inherently racist. WhiskeyGrinder Aug 2018 #55

WTF ProfessorPlum Aug 2018 #59

Bookmarking for further study. This one I wanna take some time with. calimary Aug 2018 #63