The sorely needed Second American Revolution will only happen when true populist politicians prevail. That requires a majority of Americans connecting their commonness to true populists and understanding that they will only receive political and economic justice if they do so. Why would ordinary people expect universal health care from an elitist system? Populism will only prevail when the two-party duopoly is busted, because both major parties have been and will in all likelihood remain under the control of power and economic elites. In these times, only third-parties offer the opportunity for true populists to prevail without selling out to the establishment. Ross Perot did as well as he did because, despite his business success and wealth, he came across as a populist, as has Ralph Nader. Pat Buchanan didn't come close. I mention these losers to again remind you that populists have not had a winning streak for a long time. The anticipated revolt by working- and middle-class Americans would produce winning populists in all branches and at all levels of government.
When American elitists degrade foreign politicians like the Iranian and Venezuelan presidents by calling them populists it is a sure sign of their fear and loathing of populism. Oh yes, Fidel Castro came into power because he was a populist. His main opposition originally was the upper class elitists who found a friendlier environment here in elitist America. After all, we have a meritocracy based on elitism. And all the illegal immigrants racing here are victims of a very non-populist Mexico with incredibly high economic inequality, which is the best measure of the absence of populist government. Our increasing economic inequality reflects the stranglehold of the U.S. by elitists, not populists. Obtaining economic equality must be a non-negotiable goal of true American populists. Indeed, addressing economic inequality must be a prime issue, along with restoring American democracy, of any populist movement.
American politicians will sometimes try to sell themselves as populists, particularly because of the increasing resentment and anger among so many Americans towards political status quo conditions, and their embarrassment about their own elitist backgrounds (John Kerry failed miserably at countering this). Thus this perspective in Wikipedia is important: "Not all politicians who adopt a populist campaign are true populists. Some politicians adopting the rhetoric and language of populism are criticized for using populist rhetoric merely as an organizing tactic without any actual intent of standing up for common people. And not all politicians who are labeled 'populists' are populists, or consider themselves to be populist. The term is often used as a straw man fallacy, misrepresenting an opponent's position."
Calling a true populist what they are should be welcomed, something to be proud of. With better understanding of what populism is and why America desperately needs it, genuine populists will be able to bring power to the people rather than to themselves, as conventional elitist politicians routinely do. When will we become a great nation with a government worthy of its citizens? When our populist leaders sell democracy globally not with weapons but with populist good deeds here and abroad, and create a rising economic tide not through rigged trade agreements, but by curbing corporate power and excesses here and abroad.
Power to the people – still has a nice ring.
[Joel S. Hirschhorn's new book is Delusional Democracy – Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government; he can be reached through www.delusionaldemocracy.com.]
Joel S. Hirschhorn is the author of Delusional Democracy - Fixing the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government (www.delusionaldemocracy.com). His current political writings have been greatly influenced by working as a senior staffer for the U.S. Congress and for the National Governors Association. He advocates a Second American Revolution, beginning with an Article V Convention to propose constitutional amendments. He is Chair of the Independent Party of Maryland.
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