Monday, April 20, 2009

Is American populism dead?

From the Wall Street Journal:

Tea parties aside, the anti-corporate anger hasn't so far led to a movement with specific demands, let alone a new political party, as in the past.

"Today, populism is a kind of sentiment that bursts into view in times like these, but there is no real movement behind it," said Columbia University historian Alan Brinkley. "The public just doesn't mobilize around issues in the way it once did."

The country today is different. America has an enormous middle class that is heavily invested in the financial system and is hardly about to organize for its overthrow.

19 comments:

Rick Wingnut said...

Who cares?
I'm going to stop reading this bloggernet. It distracts me from Amazing Survivor Race and Dancing with the American Idol.

Anonymous said...

I think everyone stealing the public blind is doing everything they can to keep the public happy with trash like American Idol, or if they protest, making involvement as meaningless as possible.

Progress in social equality and opportunity stopped about the time people stopped protesting.

There is a gradual decay of the middle class that started back in the 70s, and just now is beginning to accelerate.

Bringing in a batch of dependendent people that are told the machine is their savior, and who as group up not only grew up in a climate of deference to authority, but finds America a great place, will be a drag on any effort to rally the country.

Anonymous said...

The shift from defined pensions to 401Ks made middle class Americans into capitalists who can't revolt against capitalism without jeopardizing their own retirement funds.

georgetheatheist said...

"revolt against capitalism"

Why revolt against the life sustaining economic system?

Capitalism is the Philosophic Good.

www.aynrand.org

Liman said...

What are you talking about? No anti-corporate movement? We elected Obama, whose principles aren't much different from the loony street demonstrators of the late 60s. We got our lefty populist demagogue. Now what?

Here's what - he's so far from mainstream American thought that it took only three months to get Nixon's silent majority out in the streets to demonstrate. These are people who don't do such things. This will continue and we'll have a populist emerge on the right.

Anonymous said...

""revolt against capitalism"

Why revolt against the life sustaining economic system?

Capitalism is the Philosophic Good.

www.aynrand.org"

Unfortuantely this moron is viewing capitalism from the lens of a country that represents about 5% of the world's population but consumes over 70% of the world's resources. Go live in the slums of India and let me know how capitalism (accumulation of wealth to "western" nations) is working out. Jerk.

"What are you talking about? No anti-corporate movement? We elected Obama, whose principles aren't much different from the loony street demonstrators of the late 60s. We got our lefty populist demagogue. Now what?"

LOL. Obama just bailed out wall st! Real "anti-corporate." Man, Americans sure are stupid when it comes to logic.

Anonymous said...

Obama is supported by Kissinger and Rockefeller CFR group. Also Brzezinski who worked under Nixon has set Obama's agenda so its not much different than the previous 8 years. Just a new face to please the masses, keeping people fighting amongst each other.
There has been 4 bailouts for AIG. One from Obama. Three from Bush.

Too bad people didnt listen to a word Ron Paul or Kucinich said at all and marginalized them along with the corporate media.
Jim Jones, Obama's National Security Adviser, admitted that he takes his daily orders from Dr. Henry Kissinger.
My! What a big change.

georgetheatheist said...

"Go live in the slums of India and let me know how capitalism is working out."

The Entrepreneurial Spirit encourages people to rise out of poverty. Leave the cows on the street and get on a plane and get your ass out of India.

I am NOT my brother's keeper.

Anonymous said...

georgie, you're too much of a silly boob to be your brother's keeper. Your brother, I'm sure, is glad for that.

Ayn Rand is dead, by the way. But if you've read her with even HALF your brain, you'd realize her heroes are not the "capitalists" but the "creators." Big difference.

georgetheatheist said...

I know that, Smart Ass. "Capitalist" is a Marxian term which we "creators" are stuck with. Even the Great Teacher Rand put out a book "Capitalism. The Unknown Ideal".

Anonymous said...

Atheist, If you're such a Master of the Universe, why are you wasting your time blogging on this site geared toward the middle class? You should be off "creating", no?

You don't really believe in that Ayn Rand Individualism/Selfishness is great BS, do you? Shouldn't you align yourself more with your fellow outer borough commoners and leave that self-centered foolishness behind. Middle class schlunks holding on to the belief that they will some day be lifted into the heights is a primary reason why the same jerks get elected time after time and everything stays the same.

georgetheatheist said...

[Wow, I must be getting his/her goat - Ridgewoodian is that you? - No longer the appellation "georgie"]

News to me, Crapper. This site is "geared to the middle class"? [a crypto-Marxist our correspondent?] Crapper, did you know that blogging here was a "waste of time"? 2.5 years of my life in the toilet, damn.

I create while blogging on the side. See, my occupation is a piece of cake.

I live the "Individualism/Selfishness 'BS' ". Believing is Platonic. ("A=A. Existence exists". "Existence has precedence over Consciousness". -Ayn Rand)

What "BS" do you believe, Mr. Interlocutor? Or don't you have any "BS"? If not, you're an agnostic - the lowest form of intellectual endeavor.("a"="without" + "gnosis"="knowledge")

"Middle class shlunks" can lift themselves into the heights. Go to school and read a book.

Anonymous said...

Atheist, you're just too full of shit!!!!! Your response is laughable, yet pathetic. Go say some Ayn Rand incantation and take your meds (which we probably pay for.)

Anonymous said...

In Europe the bike set fights capitalists.

In NY, they are supported by them.

Jason in Kew Gardens said...

"Obama is supported by Kissinger and Rockefeller CFR group. Also Brzezinski who worked under Nixon has set Obama's agenda so its not much different than the previous 8 years. Just a new face to please the masses, keeping people fighting amongst each other."

Yes. Unfortunately people are duped into investing their personality into whether they agree with the puppet on the left, or the puppet on the right, so they rob themselves of free thought. Though the silver lining would be that now more people than ever are realizing they're doing little more in the voting booth than casting a ballot for Punch or Judy.

Anonymous said...

Hey, "Ringnut"...
who cares whether you log on or don't?

You're superfluous!

(Go and look that up now).

Anonymous said...

EVEN THE CHINESE ARE FAST BECOMING CAPITALISTS while citizens of nations like Great Britain are straining their country's resources by going increasingly on the dole!

Like it or not Darwin rules.
The fit survive.

Greed (capitalism) is akin to the nature of man.

Would you share your toys with me in the sandbox?

georgetheatheist said...

"Would you share your toys with me in the sandbox?"

Bingo!

We are NOT our brothers' keepers.

Rick Wingnut said...

Hey, "Ringnut"... You're superfluous!
(Go and look that up now).

Someone calling for Wingnut? I'm here, just amused while you kids bicker.
You should look up the $5 words before you attempt to use them.

Would you share your toys with me in the sandbox?
And YOU must be an arsehole who doesn't know how to make friends, like the resident IDEALIST georgie.