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Understanding the 'Pop' in Populism
The polarized reactions that Trump elicits amount to one kind of evidence that something new is afoot in today's populism. Since Inauguration Day, the "resistance" has treated Trump more like an abusive stepfather than an elected head of state. Then there's his base, whose loyalty in the face of one transgression after another is famously unflagging [...]

Trump, in sum, is not just any populist, but one who appears to supporters as a paternal authority. This overlooked truth also explains their unflagging loyalty to him. Trump, to them, is no mere president, but a protector who has their best interests at heart - which is why perpetual attempts to unseat him by denouncing his transgressions will never rock his base.

Nor is Trump alone in functioning as a super-daddy in a world where more and more children and former children grow up without an ordinary father in the home

by das monde on Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 08:38:47 AM EST
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Wow, you mean if traditional patriarchy based on the economic imperatives of a 3000 year old herding economy  had never been challenged then all would be well? I'm so surprised to see you citing such a thing.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 10:14:33 AM EST
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Challenging economic (and evolutionary) imperatives is not a bad thing. But skepticism about self-knowledge, selective empathy, limits of feminism is not terrible either. The feminist ambition could be humbler rather than Jacobin-lite in face of the historic scale. Otherwise, you will not know everything you are getting with unchallenged female choice and so.
by das monde on Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 11:45:47 AM EST
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But we already knew that populism is about appealing to people's worse instincts. I'm not sure whether you think progressives should combat it by adopting its tactics, or whether you think it's a good thing in itself.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 04:00:56 PM EST
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What are those?

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 05:11:05 PM EST
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Why are Trump, Bolsonaro, BoJo so popular?
They take people's worse instincts and translate them into public policy.

It is rightly acknowledged that people of faith have no monopoly of virtue - Queen Elizabeth II
by eurogreen on Wed Oct 16th, 2019 at 10:02:59 AM EST
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It is not really people's worst instincts, but innate social games, communal-ethical language, inherent Wittgensteinian forms of life that people have been following since eons, and will surely continue to follow for quite some time.

If the progressives wish to ignore non-modern, "superstitious" morality dimensions heroically, they are acting irresponsibly on a grand scale. Rather than telling to outdo conservatives in bad appeals, all I would ask is to show some historical intelligence and perceivable charisma skills - just to attract attention of those not that passionate about modernity goods.

But apparently progressive leaders are doubling down on a trajectory that most folks do not wish to follow. Take Elisabeth Warren as a trooper for those social justices:

A supporter approaches you and says, "Senator, I'm old-fashioned and my faith teaches me that marriage is between one man and one woman." What is your response?

Well, I'm going to assume it's a guy who said that - She would not consider is was a woman.

Then just marry one woman. I'm cool with that. - Most likely, that kind of guy has a compliant wife.

Assuming you can find one. - Ha ha! Spoken downwards from a position of power, with visible satisfaction. Not classy, really.

by das monde on Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 05:37:10 PM EST
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I'm confident we're on the same page here.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
by Cat on Tue Oct 15th, 2019 at 05:45:30 PM EST
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