Posted on 05/31/2025 11:38:03 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
It isn’t Trump, it is ‘the people.’
American politics’ great irony is that Democrats hold populism in contempt. Definitionally, historically, and rhetorically, Democrats drape themselves in “the people.” Yet somehow, populism is now a pejorative for their party. The answer lies in the separation that populism implies and the other side of the divide, the elite, whom Democrats now embrace.
Populus means “the people.” A populist is one who appeals to the people. In a democracy, being of and appealing to the people is hardly exceptional. It is a political fact of life.
Even in a republic like ours, the people are the ultimate arbiters. Up and down the spectrum of American political offices, few are not filled through elections. A candidate must get more votes to win an election, usually a majority or at least a plurality. Either way, the people decide.
It is therefore strange indeed that a major party operating in a democracy would disdain “the people.” It is stranger still coming from a political party that calls itself “democrats.” Democrat comes from “demos,” the Greek word for “the people.” So, the Democrats have taken as their name: the party of “the people.” (RELATED: Elitist Libs Remove the ‘Demo’ From the Democrats)
Far from just a chosen name, the Democrat Party has embraced “the people” as political populists historically. Jefferson, Jackson, William Jennings Bryan, FDR (improbably, as the scion of an aristocratic New York family), LBJ — all were the populists of their day, if not all time. Even today, though coming from different ends of the ideological spectrum, Senator...
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
It is messy. And that makes them scared. People might not do what they think they should. Or exactly in the right way.
Letting people do as they wish inside of a framework of general rules means that you are going to have some people being rude, messy, loud and annoying.
Nothing that does harm to the general population but like a tag in a shirt it bothers a bit.
So they want laws that will prevent that. It is just a small restriction. Just a trifle. But then they feel they can do just a little bit more. And then a little step more.
Because people are little children who do not know what is good for them. And they need to be guided by those wiser and more farseeing. Which always seems to be the people making the rules. Curious how that goes.
Such people have the best of intentions. But they always unleash great evil.
Funny how that goes.
Populists believe in limited decentralized government of, by and for the people.
The opposite of populismis elitism.
Elitists believe in unlimited centralized government of, by and for an entitled, hereditary, autocratic political/bureaucratic class.
The thing was, not too long ago the Democrats were the populists - then they REJECTED us and moved to bring in Tribal Support as their base. One problem the last election showed was that one of their Tribes, the biggest and growing, Hispanics, pretty much have the Democrats figured out.
The ones that cry “victim” while being anything but is who the Democrats are trying to appeal to today. Vocal victims of traditional values (including Biblical ones most importantly) such as the perverts, criminals, and the morally depraved are the clarion call that they hoist their banner to. Every victim needs a villain, and that happens to be the normal people who don’t want the Left’s depravity shoved in their face every day.
The elites make plans on how to rule the peons.
When they want the peons opinions they would ask for them.
“I am going to put a boot on your face. What is your favorite boot?”
Lol.
No, they were not.
They were always about forcing other people into their box.
First they lure with treats. Then they poke with sharp sticks.
You actually can have a limited centralize government which allows freedom. But once you have a unlimited government that sticks it's nose into everything it does not matter how local it is. The block captain can be just as big a tyrant as the dear leader of the country. Actually more so because they can see up close what moves you might make to subvert the rules and can pounce.
For a little while, before it passes more and more and more and more laws.
MAGA IS the populism of our time... and we deplorables have been standing up to totalitarian democrat jerks for a long time... Trump is brave and so are we.
On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the Democrats will sneer at the Republicans’ “populism.” On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday they will sneer at the Republicans as the party of “oligarchs.” They will say whatever they think will work at the moment, even if it contradicts what they said ten minutes ago.
Which is why I am in favor of changing the people in charge frequently. Once you let them get in the habit of commanding they will do it. It is the nature of the beast.
Some times I think the best way to have a government is one where the names of all adults are placed in a hat and you draw out five. Those are the people who will run the community for the next two years. After that they can never be in government again.
Yeah you would occasionally get a bad group but you get that when you elect them too.
It doesn’t help that Democrats don’t like the United States or the American people.
Mebbe the Demos get this impression since most of their base is the 30M Americans with an IQ < 85. Yeah, they can “vote” but yah hafta hold the crayon for them.
The Latin word for people is “populus.” The Greek word is “demos.” It was disappointing to hear Nancy Pelosi — a woman of Italian extraction through birth AND marriage, speak disparagingly of populism.
I’ve heard “populism is democracy when you don’t like the result.”
That’s the core of it right there.
But they don't really care about what the voters think about anything. They are elitists, and, once elected, they and they alone know what is right about everything. They then proceed to impose their radical agenda down everyone's throats. The will of the people be damned.
The political elite only care about policies that benefit themselves and their big money donors.
“I am going to put a boot on your face. What is your favorite boot?”
Such an exquisite observation. Well said.
The lure of populism is that it provides simple solutions to complex problems. That’s also its danger.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.