Populism, on the right, left, and center is rising in America today in response to the failures of Wall Street and Washington D.C. elites and the Ivy Leaguers which control both. But the term is vague, just what does it actually mean?
Populism historically has been portrayed as the actions of masses of uneducated and loosely organized individuals, including large the rurally based movements here in the US during the late 19th Century. But the term is much, much older than that, going back to the unofficial Roman Senate coalition of the 'Populares' whose techniques would include citizen initiatives to address crucial issues. The Wikipedia article on the subject goes into this very interesting history in greater detail.
The United States Constitution, the foundation of legal authority, could be considered a 'populist' document, assuring the protection of the individual citizen from authority of all stripes. But yet somehow the term has come to mean something just a shade less negative then 'anarchism' - a philosophy that argues for self-control above control from the law and State.
Populism today is being manipulated by the authoritative elites of corporate media via such 'astroturf' grass roots efforts such as the Tea Party. Although originally inspired by the Libertarian Ron Paul the effort is starting to look like a racist group of hatemongers. This group has the potential for some sort of KKK style reactionary violence, due the takeover of the group through targeted expenditures, including $100,000 to the person of Sarah Palin. This is very similar to the nature of the KKK in the American south, an intentional effort to divide poor whites from poor blacks via hate.
On the left Obama won his presidency by effectively energizing the people of America through an internet campaign including email, and perhaps most importantly, social media. In attempting to portray himself as a centrist leader and not some radical leftie he supported the bailout of corrupt and criminal Wall Street.
However in doing so he rapidly lost the support of those Independents who voted for him. I will argue that it is this completely unorganized group whom is the most likely to lead America to an honest, prosperous, and equitable future - three closely interrelated concepts.
But what is honest populism today? Is it really a bunch of uneducated rubes incapable of making a smart decision? Or perhaps it is people that have actually lived an honest life and have developed some common sense big picture judgment in the process? I, personally, think so.
I will not predict what populism will become in the time period between 2010 and 2012, but one thing for sure, the people have access to technology, and the common sense to use it to their benefit - not for the traitorous corporatist screwing over of the vast majority of law abiding US citizens by the 'smart' folks.
And, for what it is worth, I hope I will be one of the voices to shape that renewal of American populism, our Constitutional government and its free market constituents.
