STB & NFH have it exactly right.
Here’s a microscale example: My Uncle has his business in MA. Shockingly, 90*% of the elected politicians are RATS. He’s a rabid Republican.
Now, if “sitting RAT politician” asks him to buy a ticket or two for a fundraiser, sure, he could tell them to FOAD. But when he needs or wants something, guess what they’ll tell him? So, yes, he’ll quietly go along to get along on some things. He’d never hand out stickers or stuff like that for them though, no. Throw ‘em $25 or $50 for a “spaghetti supper” that he doesn’t go to? Yeah, he’s done that.
Being pragmatic is being realistic; you have to be. Duh...
Well stated.
What do:
Donald Trump (GOP frontrunner)
Bernie Sanders (DNC frontrunner)
Nigel Farage (UK Independence Party leader)
Alex Tsipiras (Greek head of state)
Beppe Grillo (popular Italian politician)
and Vladimir Putin
All have in common?
They are all running on an anti-Western establishment platform and have become extremely popular as a result. What we’re seeing isn’t just an American trend; there is a >>>global<<< backlash occurring against career politicians.
People worldwide are fed up.