[Constitutionalist Conservative]

Populism was forever redefined by Jeffrey Bell (a business partner of this columnist) as optimism about people’s ability to manage their own affairs better than an elite can manage them for them. Populism is neither left nor right wing. Populists of all stripes share in common a conviction in “power to the people,” a belief that in a republic “citizen” is the noblest office. And while Lessig and Meckler may disagree about just about every ideological issue, their respect for the wisdom and dignity of the citizens unites them in a realm far more important than the ideological.

"Populism" is in many cases just another word for mobocracy. Much of the structure of our republic is designed to reign in the darker impulses of populist movements.

[SuzyQue]

Yes, what he said.