The Times Are Ripe for Populism

[Tom Rinaldo]

The Tea Party is just a distraction, an effort to preempt and/or deflect rising populist anger away from its natural course, in order to protect its natural adversaries. Of course the media is complicit in that emergency detour. True populism is a wild card, a river that overflows its banks that can no longer be controlled. Most of the media is functionally part of a system of levees that support the status quo, keeping passions safely channeled away from anything that could threaten the regular order. And so we had endless hyped coverage of protesters wearing three sided hats but muted coverage of a true and massive ongoing populist rebellion in Wisconsin. And so "Joe the Plumber" was thrust in all of our faces but the huge crowds in Madison were intentionally left faceless by the media.

It's not confined to America. In many ways Americans are among the slowest to react to what is happening globally. Populism is on the rise in the United Kingdom and raging in Greece. The so called Arab Spring was and is a series of populist uprisings that surged over less complex social levees positioned in that part of the world. In Egypt the State tolerated opposition parties were left flat footed and behind; even the unofficial but long established Islamic opposition in Egypt was caught off guard and left hurrying to catch up to the people.

With populism the bold underlying issues are almost always clear cut and basic. At core it is a demand that all have adequate access to the necessities of life. It is a demand that the hoarding of wealth by elites while "common people" increasingly suffer and die must end. It seeks basic justice with one set of standards all are to to be judged by, not a wink and a nod for the elite and stern discipline and deterrence for the rest.

There comes a time when the hall of mirror deceptions shatter, and it becomes clear as glass who is keeping the game rigged to their own advantage. That can happen rapidly, in a relative blink of the eye for many once learned complacency is stripped away. All of the existing accommodations carefully hammered out between long established players; all the deals both explicit and implicit, can suddenly be called into question. History is littered with tipping points that were only clear in hindsight.

Populism doesn't always have a happy ending. If responsible populist leaders don't emerge, or more likely if they do but their warnings and demands are unheeded or crushed, populism can become distorted and ugly. By and large the Democratic PArty has moved away from its populist legacy. It is leaving a huge void unfilled, and nature abhors a vacuum.

[murielm99]

1. Great post.

This is wonderfully well-written.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. Thanks. I know some times I tend to "over write" for effect. 'Tis a fine line n/t

[SoDesuKa]

2. It's Time for an Obama 2008 Yes We Can Campaign

Obama ran as a populist in 2008, but has disappointed many voters who thought they were getting something other than what Obama has delivered. This has caused much dissension here at DU, among other places.

I'll admit it. Obama hasn't turned out to be the guy I voted for. I was expecting more of a power to the people kind of guy.

[Kurovski]

3. I think you hit the mark square on why the "Tea Party" was created by the powerful and wealthy

-astroturf to cover their asses.

Excellent, K&R.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. Kind of like what fire fighters due to stop wildfires

create their own controlled burns to deprive the wild fire of fuel.

[RandomThoughts]

4. It is not only the media.

There is also some combination of groups, possibly telecoms, possibly search engine companies, although all the search engines have the same effects, so more likely Governmental/private sector corporate groups like Internet service providers, and those groups will have to be utterly crushed.

They have been attacking citizens, to defend what is best for a few out of fear based on 'how they see things' from a view that includes there perspective, and not about what they see. And using reverse justice worse then anarchy, by things like preemptive attacks based on bad perceptions, and various violations of rights.

The corporate companies, should be under the same restrictions involving information systems, where censorship, and hacking into computers should be treated as a crime, based on the rights of citizens in society. They want to control society, since so much of communication now goes through bottle necks, and a few controls on those electronic communications system bottlenecks are destroying the rights and ability for society to move forward. And large companies that have a large market share, and are part of information for society, should have civilian review to avoid it being used to try and propagandize society.

Basically when you know information systems are being altered to hinder better ideas, becuase some can't see them, or are afraid of there being good and bad in everything, and specifically how they censor much thoughts.

And have not sent the beer and travel money that is due to me.

They have to be removed, broken up, and dispersed.


All indications are that they are continuing to go the wrong way, multiple items of censorship and harassment, and various uses of tactics that have no practical effects, and are only there to try and break people.


And no, it does not matter if this is read, for it is just and compassionate for society to not be controlled, nor have its free will stolen by the whims of a few that see through fearful eyes.



Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs

Bonnie Raitt - I Can't Make You Love Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time
http://www.123video.nl/playvideos.asp?MovieID=407128

Dire Straits - Walk of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZxVC0GB838


Constantine - Bring me to life (Evanescence)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx8d3K_hngw

[Dreamer Tatum]

7. The internet killed populism. nt

[Terry in Austin]

8. You're not just going to leave us with that, are you?

C'mon -- say more!

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. The internet can fuel populism

there is so much compelling data now about the transfer of wealth from the bottom 90% or so of Americans to the top 1% that any and all of it can go viral if spread effectively framed in populist terms. We can bypass the media choke point with that type of message now. I'm in the early stages of a compilation myself right now.

[amborin]

10. kr

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. Open question

Anyone currently living in the South or Plains or Mountain States see any seeds of potentially left leaning populist anger simmering there below the surface of conservative politics and attitudes? In decades long past it surfaced before.

[annabanana]

12. Many pissed off people, whose first taste of civic life was the Tea Party

summer.. have stayed to learn what the hell was going on anyway.. and will be natural allies of progressives. ANYTHING that engages large numbers of people will ultimately redound to us.