Great post, really like the "Olympic Podium" metaphor and this being about perceived social status of the in and out group, rather than some rational calculation about "how will this new tax bill effect me?" etc
Populism isn’t necessarily inconsistent with democracy. But social movements are tricky and require compelling leaders. A populist movement that serves democracy respects its norms and institutions and has bold leaders with magnetic integrity.
Thank you for your reply and taking time to listen. I tend to agree- populist leaders are needed to engage voters, and they should respect the norms and institutions. However, I feel like the norms and institutions are shifting and that those anchors are coming loose, causing foundational confusion. What will be the new iteration of norms and institutions? We need the foundation to settle and realign so that populism isn't just populism and it has a North Star and higher purpose. The Republican Party definitely contradicts itself, putting into question what ideology (if any) it serves. I am hopeful that the Democratic Party can re-anchor with a solid ideology as it seems to be flailing now also, and we need at least one grown-up in the room of political debate.
I don't think the Olympic podium metaphor works at all. Why doesn't the bronze medal winner feel more resentful because there are TWO people ahead of him, and no one below him to offset the resentment, while the silver medal winner has only one person ahead of him to resent and one person below him to make him feel better.
Great post, really like the "Olympic Podium" metaphor and this being about perceived social status of the in and out group, rather than some rational calculation about "how will this new tax bill effect me?" etc
Thanks. I borrowed that metaphor from Condon and Wichowsky. It resonated with me, too.
What happens if (when😳) both parties fall victim to populism, and need to manufacture a “them” instead of governing from an ideological foundation?
Populism isn’t necessarily inconsistent with democracy. But social movements are tricky and require compelling leaders. A populist movement that serves democracy respects its norms and institutions and has bold leaders with magnetic integrity.
Thank you for your reply and taking time to listen. I tend to agree- populist leaders are needed to engage voters, and they should respect the norms and institutions. However, I feel like the norms and institutions are shifting and that those anchors are coming loose, causing foundational confusion. What will be the new iteration of norms and institutions? We need the foundation to settle and realign so that populism isn't just populism and it has a North Star and higher purpose. The Republican Party definitely contradicts itself, putting into question what ideology (if any) it serves. I am hopeful that the Democratic Party can re-anchor with a solid ideology as it seems to be flailing now also, and we need at least one grown-up in the room of political debate.
I don't think the Olympic podium metaphor works at all. Why doesn't the bronze medal winner feel more resentful because there are TWO people ahead of him, and no one below him to offset the resentment, while the silver medal winner has only one person ahead of him to resent and one person below him to make him feel better.
This is a pretty widely reported idea: https://www.npr.org/2021/07/29/1022537817/theres-a-psychology-lesson-behind-why-olympic-bronze-medalists-are-so-happy
I'm not saying it is not an empirical fact, only that if it is, the rationale is not convincing.