Populism
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Have we broadened the definition of the word so much, it has lost its meaning?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populism_in_the_United_States
Trump is often referred to as a populist, but having lived in a state where every town has a building or street named after Huey P. Long, I'm not completely sure. Possibly in a Jacksonian sense, but Trump did not ignore SCOTUS rulings or disband any major departments of government.
In a sense, any pol, right or left, tries to appeal to a majority of voters. To do so, they craft a message they hope resonates with the people they are trying to convince. By that measure, isn't every president a populist?
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Per Merriam Webster, I think you're correct. In any event, it applies equally to the other side.
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Chat GPT 4 has a good answer.
You:
What is populism in the US political contextChatGPT 4.0:
Populism in the U.S. political context refers to a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. The term is often used to describe a variety of movements and political leaders, regardless of their ideological spectrum. Key characteristics of populism in the U.S. include:-
Anti-Establishment Sentiment: Populist movements typically position themselves against what they perceive as the political, economic, and cultural elite. They often claim to represent the "common people" against the establishment.
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Appeal to the "Average Citizen": Populism involves rhetoric that speaks to the everyday concerns of ordinary people. This can include issues related to the economy, immigration, or national sovereignty.
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Leader-Centric: U.S. populism often centers around charismatic leaders who claim to uniquely represent the will of the people, sometimes bypassing traditional political institutions and channels.
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Simplification of Complex Issues: Populists may present straightforward solutions to complex problems, appealing to common sense or general principles.
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Division of Society into Two Groups: Populist narratives often divide society into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups: "the pure people" versus "the corrupt elite."
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Emotional Appeal: Populist politics in the U.S. often involves appealing to emotions, such as fear, pride, or a sense of injustice.
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Variability Across the Political Spectrum: Populism can be found on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum. The specific issues and rhetoric differ, but the underlying approach of appealing directly to the general populace against the perceived elite remains consistent.
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Impact on Political Discourse and Policy: Populist movements can significantly influence national debates and policy directions, often bringing attention to issues that may be overlooked or handled differently by traditional politicians.
In U.S. history, populist movements have emerged at various times, often in response to economic distress or societal changes. They have played a significant role in shaping the country's political landscape, reflecting deep-seated sentiments within the electorate.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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Chat GPT 4 has a good answer.
You:
What is populism in the US political contextChatGPT 4.0:
Populism in the U.S. political context refers to a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. The term is often used to describe a variety of movements and political leaders, regardless of their ideological spectrum. Key characteristics of populism in the U.S. include:-
Anti-Establishment Sentiment: Populist movements typically position themselves against what they perceive as the political, economic, and cultural elite. They often claim to represent the "common people" against the establishment.
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Appeal to the "Average Citizen": Populism involves rhetoric that speaks to the everyday concerns of ordinary people. This can include issues related to the economy, immigration, or national sovereignty.
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Leader-Centric: U.S. populism often centers around charismatic leaders who claim to uniquely represent the will of the people, sometimes bypassing traditional political institutions and channels.
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Simplification of Complex Issues: Populists may present straightforward solutions to complex problems, appealing to common sense or general principles.
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Division of Society into Two Groups: Populist narratives often divide society into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups: "the pure people" versus "the corrupt elite."
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Emotional Appeal: Populist politics in the U.S. often involves appealing to emotions, such as fear, pride, or a sense of injustice.
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Variability Across the Political Spectrum: Populism can be found on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum. The specific issues and rhetoric differ, but the underlying approach of appealing directly to the general populace against the perceived elite remains consistent.
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Impact on Political Discourse and Policy: Populist movements can significantly influence national debates and policy directions, often bringing attention to issues that may be overlooked or handled differently by traditional politicians.
In U.S. history, populist movements have emerged at various times, often in response to economic distress or societal changes. They have played a significant role in shaping the country's political landscape, reflecting deep-seated sentiments within the electorate.
The opposite:
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Pro-Establishment Sentiment: The opposite of Populist movements typically position themselves in support of what they perceive as the political, economic, and cultural elite. They often claim to represent the establishment against the "common people".
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No Appeal to the "Average Citizen": The opposite of Populism does not involve rhetoric that speaks to the everyday concerns of ordinary people. This can include issues related to the economy, immigration, or national sovereignty.
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Leader-agnostic: The opposite of U.S. populism rarely centers around charismatic leaders who claim to uniquely represent the will of the people, sometimes bypassing traditional political institutions and channels.
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Over-Complication of Simple Issues: The opposite of Populists may present complicated solutions to simple problems, appealing to specialized knowledge or luxury beliefs.
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No Divisiveness: The opposite of Populist narratives rarely divide society into two homogeneous and antagonistic groups: "the pure people" versus "the corrupt elite."
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Rational Appeal: The opposite of Populist politics in the U.S. often involves appealing to rationality, such as facts, logic, and evidence.
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Populism is a muddle — a political, economic, and moral dog’s breakfast.
Which brings us back to that quote from Time, “…the politics of the little guy against the big guy — the classic struggle of the haves against the have‐nots or the have‐not‐enoughs.”
Populism is a lie and a logical sophistry. The very idea of the “struggle of the haves against the have‐nots” presupposes the zero‐sum fallacy that only a fixed amount of good things exist in the world, and I can only have more good things if I take them from you.
Haven’t had my morning coffee yet so this seemed as good as any description of the demogoguery that channels the populism infecting our turbulent times.
Full article:
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ChatGPT4:
In a U.S. political context, the opposite of populism can be considered elitism or technocracy.
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Elitism: This refers to a belief system that considers a small, privileged group to be more qualified to make decisions, often because of their higher social status, wealth, or specialized knowledge and education.
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Technocracy: This is a system of governance where decision-makers are selected based on their expertise in a particular area, often prioritizing technical or scientific knowledge over popular opinion or elected representation.
Both elitism and technocracy contrast with populism, which emphasizes the power of the general population, often advocating for the interests and voices of the "ordinary people" against the elite or established structures of power.
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I repeatedly mention that I’m using chatGPT 4.0 to signal that, as an elitist technocrat, I get better AI than you do.
