This is exactly how Trump got won the primary. While every other candidate offered a view of the US a country. Trump offered his views to only a very narrow slice of the overall country; in general undereducated, older white males. Disagree all you want, that was the crux of his message. The reasons for the problems of generally older white males are Mexicans, immigrants, and you should be particularly afraid of Muslims. Trumps ran a campaign targeted to a very low level audience.
I think I made somewhat of that point - that's why I said, "Make your life great like it used to be" - it ran directly to make you think, "Make America Great Again." But, in your screed, you forgot to mention that is ALSO what got Obama popular support - "Hope and Change".
The under educated liberal rubes thought that he was going to Make America Great - for the first time. As Obama's own wife said, she had never been proud to be an American until her husband won. Those same rubes and #######s repeatedly said how America has never been great - ever.
Politicians have been using populist lines like this, picking and choosing which idiots they think will win them an election, and pandering to them for an awfully long time.
Trump's narrow slice of the country, as you called it, was a lot more than older white males. If you look at the demographics, Romney won white voters +20, Trump +21 (virtually unchanged). However, the split for black people was only an 80 point lead for Clinton as opposed to Obama winning them with a 91 point lead. Women, also, were not swayed by Clinton - she had a +12, Obama had a +13.
So, you can call it what you want, but it was not what you are describing despite what you call it.
Oh for Christ's sake...you do realize that only proves the point. The problem with populist's is that they target their agenda to only one group. Trump couldn't win by suggesting he would help everyone. A populist only has a chance by pitting one group against others. A populist doesn't bring people together he divides them. This Person only proves that point with his idiotic elites vs non-elites BS.
Interesting point, having nothing to do with what I was saying. I was explaining to Vrai why I think some people find the word "populist" "bad". I think the people who find it "bad" are hypocritical idiots, doing the same thing they are railing against.
And that last line explains the end result of why populism fails under people like Trump. Trump can't govern for all. Yet that is what the President of the United States must do. GURPS and Gilligan are perfect examples of This Person's point...the ignorant masses, represented by GURPS and Gilligan, believe the tax cuts were designed for them. GURPS is all giddy because he can buy a steak instead of a hamburger. Yet he fails to understand the larger implications of the damage the tax cuts will do to the federal budget and our preparedness for the next recession.
And, YOU are proving my point by claiming others can't understand what smart people would do for the country, and "the ignorant masses" just won't "understand the larger implication of the damage" someone else's policies will bring. YOU are why populism fails, because you think the masses are ignorant.
We can agree that we should balance the budget before offering tax cuts, because we should pay back what we borrowed instead of putting that bill on our children. But, calling people "ignorant masses" for wanting to keep their income is a pretty elitist, arrogant, uninformed, establishment-ist thing to do, and it damages the overall ability of the nation to come together.
When did populism become generally bad? When it became about pitting one class of people against another. In its current Trump iteration, populism is bad even for the people whose votes Trump targeted...for his policies (whatever they may be this morning) don't help them. Trump's incompetence is doing more harm than good. But none of you understand that...you got $80 extra dollars in your paychecks afterall!!!
More of the same - if we ignorant rubes would only listen to you elite, smart people and give up our rights and liberties to you, you would run our lives for us in ways that would make us happier - even if we are too stupid to know we're happier.
You make my point while mocking it, and that's pretty difficult to do. I applaud your total lack of self-awareness.