Why Populism is Really Statism

Conservative Review ^ | 03/17/2016 | Mark Levin

[MLL]

On Thursday night, Conservative Review Editor-in-Chief Mark Levin took on the rising tide of "populist nationalism" with a history lesson.

Populism, Levin explained, is really just progressivism. The populist movement in America was the forerunner of the progressive movement, and both populism and progressivism share the same disdain for constitutionalism that conservatives reject.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Securing borders and negotiating fair trade agreements is Marxism?

[MLL]

There is no way that you listened to what he said. Listen to Mark before you post

[nathanbedford]

Moments before this article concerning Mark Levin's views on populism appeared, I posted this reply:

Actually the whole structure of the Constitution was designed to frustrate populism which the framers thought of as mob rule.

Originally, the only direct voice of the people was to be had in the House of Representatives, the Senate being elected by state legislatures. The Supreme Court was not elected at all and the President of the United States was not directly elected either but electors were elected who under the Constitution were expected to exercise their judgment in passing on the populist will.

It is the genius of the Constitution to recognize the popular will but to confine its scope by a system of checks and balances and separation of powers which were frankly designed to frustrate the popular will. That is why we call it a Republic and not a democracy.

I don't will think you believe in the absolute power of the populist will. Are you ready to surrender your Second Amendment rights to bear arms to the Democrats when they gain a majority? I am not willing to surrender my First Amendment rights to Donald Trump if he should have populist wind at his back.

[Utmost Certainty]

And anti-Trump protestors are patriots… black is white, up is down… everything’s apparently inverted these days.

[The Toll]

No no. I’ve recently learned that borders are RACIS! I had no idea.

[Poison Pill]

negotiating fair trade agreements is Marxism?

Trade protectionism is marxism, yes.

[Utmost Certainty]

The 2A is dead if Hillary gets into office and installs a Merrick Garland to the USSC. And she will try to ride a wave of populism into office just like Obama did.

[Pelham]

Levin is getting desperate in his attempt to discredit the Trump camp.

[DesertRhino]

Get off the internet you big dope.

[grey_whiskers]

The framers also warned against "factions" which map fairly well onto today's political parties. Populism is a reaction against the excesses of factions.

Incidentally, when do we get to repeal the 16th, 17th, 19th, and 26th?

[SueRae]

I’m really tired of labels and others trying to force people into one box or another.

[John Valentine]

You know that is not what Levin is saying. What he is saying comes from the knowledge that today’s progressive movement is the outgrowth and grandchild of the century long progressive/statist project.

We had a slim chance this election cycle to move in a different direction, but maybe we’re too far gone as a nation to recognize the problem.

But now way no how is Levin arguing that fair trade deals or securing the border is in any way marxist, or even central to the Progressive project.

That’s why, to some extent at least, both are diversions and are not in dispute.

[Mensius]

Trade protectionism is marxism, yes.

Then why do we negotiate trade deals? If it was truly "free trade", then there is no need for negotiation or even treatise for that matter. The problem is that these deals are in no way free.

[MLL]

Levin is not desperate. Trump is no conservative and Levin is calling him out!

[Pelham]

“Trade protectionism is marxism, yes. “

Somebody should have warned Alexander Hamilton, the author of our first protective tariff, and his boss George Washington who signed the bill into law.

[A CA Guy]

Insanity everywhere. So many want to take their toy and go home.

The left and activists hate. The establishment GOP hates and supposed Conservatives are being exposed and are going nuts.

[georgiarat]

Don’t forget support for second amendment, paying for defense of countries who stab us in the back and payments to foreign governments to buy goods from crony US Corps at 50 cents on the dollar.’

[MLL]

You are the dope who wants to vote for the fake Trump. Take a long walk off a short pier. CRUZ 2016!

[DesertRhino]

This idiot. Yes, we are not a democracy, and we all know democracy is truly bad. On the other hand, he has ZERO respect for the wants and needs of an enormous majority of the population. He thinks this majority should shut up and do whatever he and his types say.
THAT is also statism Mark.