I do really think that the electorate souring on populism would require something like social security breaking
Replies
We need good populism instead of evil populism. Unfortunately voters cannot tell the difference. And an alternative that is not wonks taking delight in how complex they can make their processes.
mar 3, 2025, 6:59 pm • 1 0 • view
The problem is in how you define "populism." if by "populism" you mean "do things that primarily benefit the working/middle classes rather than the upper class" then sure but I've never seen a populism that wasn't whipping people up with easy answers to hard problems and looking for the enemy
mar 3, 2025, 7:22 pm • 0 0 • view
I generally like Bernie but Bernie 2016 (and to a lesser extent Bernie 2020) are examples of how even "good" populism (e.g., populism that just wants people to have healthcare) can be toxic. Populism requires you to have the mandate of the vox populi. But what happens if you... lose the election?
mar 3, 2025, 7:23 pm • 0 0 • view
Losing the primary election means that you didn't have the will of the people on your side, by definition. The other candidate(s) got more votes than you did. But you're a populist. Your movement depends on speaking with the vox populi. So reconciling this takes you to some *nasty* places where
mar 3, 2025, 7:24 pm • 0 0 • view
you wind up completely rejecting all of the people who didn't vote for you as nonexistent/just pawns in the elites' machinations
mar 3, 2025, 7:25 pm • 0 0 • view
Good news! ...also bad news!
mar 3, 2025, 5:46 pm • 2 0 • view
Unironically the US need to experience the equivalence of childbirth pain to maybe get its shit together.
mar 3, 2025, 5:38 pm • 5 0 • view
It's still two years till the next election. If Trump and Elon turn off Medicare / SS tommorow, meemaw has 21 months to forget / find a way to blame Dems for the checks she no longer gets.
mar 3, 2025, 5:53 pm • 3 0 • view
Elections are not the only way to stop these people. If constituents are angry enough, Congress members may suddenly find the courage to impeach. It will only take a few Republicans
mar 3, 2025, 5:59 pm • 3 0 • view
Need votes for Senate conviction and people with the fortitude to order US Marshalls/Marines/Post Office security (idk) to physically boot him out. Higher bar
mar 3, 2025, 6:59 pm • 1 0 • view
Same in the senate - they need disgruntled constituents to hand them their spines back. Trump’s political power comes from his voter base.
mar 3, 2025, 7:02 pm • 1 0 • view
Guess we're about to find out.
mar 3, 2025, 5:35 pm • 12 0 • view