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[–] 42 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (5 children)

How? No way 75% of the states would agree.

By electing sane politicians and not a bunch of weak populists who bend for the loudest rightwingnuts...

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago*

    Yes but this continues to be true. The top level poster implied that at some point is was true, but it is no longer true. It's never been reasonably possibly in the us and nothing has changed recently to make it meaningfully less possible.

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  • [–] -2 points 2 years ago (3 children)

    Faux populists, populists are actually cool

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    No, they're not. Populism as a whole is a horrible political strategy which benefits only a few members of the political class.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Populism is literally focusing on the masses. Now elitists use it as a pejorative to refer to fascists when fascists are also elitist with faux populist rhetoric.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    No, populism is a focus on electorally beneficial short term goals. Has been so since always. Political decisions taken with the intent and plan of benefitting the populous are simply called a "good political administration".

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (1 child)

    No, populism is a focus on electorally beneficial short term goals.

    I mean I've heard people accuse Bernie of being a populist but I don't think he's focused on short term goals. Are they using the term wrong?

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  • [–] 4 points 2 years ago

    Quite clearly, yes. Bernie may rely on populism more than a hardline socialist, but as a relative metric against his rivals, he's not even close to a populist.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 years ago* (1 child)

    Populism is simply a political strategy where you appeal to the 'common voter.' It is neither good nor bad.

    Pro-Union efforts are populist. So are most socialist movements.

    The Nazis also ran on a populist campaign. As is Trump right now.

    Stating a movement is populist is an in-the-moment observation. I would argue that trying to sort 'true populists' who are actually trying to help their supporter base from 'faux-populists' fundamentally misuses the term, which is simply noting who the politician is trying to appeal to.

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  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago (1 child)
  • [–] -1 points 2 years ago* (2 children)

    Encyclopedia britannica:

    political program or movement that champions, or claims to champion, the common person, usually by favourable contrast with a real or perceived elite or establishment. Populism usually combines elements of the left and the right, opposing large business and financial interests but also frequently being hostile to established liberal, socialist, and labour parties.

    Wikipedia asserts a similar definition

    History.com again corroborates this:

    The style of politics that claims to speak for ordinary people and often stirs up distrust has risen up on both sides of the political spectrum throughout U.S. history.

    Your definition is objectively not what the general populace means when they say 'populism'.

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