"Mommy, what's a demagogue?"

[kentuck]

dem·a·gogue
/ˈdeməˌɡäɡ/
noun
noun: demagogue; plural noun: demagogues

1.
a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.

[Kurt V.]

1. i don't like that definition. What's wrong with appealing to the desires ordinary ppl.

Here's webster: a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

[kentuck]

2. That is a better definition.

I'm sure there are others.

[Kurt V.]

3. the history of the word is interesting too. ppl like hobbes and swift used it as a positive.

[kentuck]

4. Interesting.

[H2O Man]

7. Indeed, it is.

The original meaning of the word was basically "teacher of the people." When I was young, some applied the word in its negative sense to Malcolm X; he loved words, of course, and taught what its original meaning was.

[meow2u3]

5. Personally, I prefer to use a synonym for demagogue: rabble rouser

Not to mention instigator, agitator, incendiary, etc.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabble-rouser

[kentuck]

6. Where we sit usually determines where we stand...

When someone is sitting in the White House, I think it might be more important, and perhaps, dangerous?

[NacLeeFF]

8. How about Pied Piper of the Bigots and Assholes?

[H2O Man]

9. Recommended.

Interesting OP/thread! Thank you.