> I suggest the rise of populism is caused by increases in wealth going to the very richest while in real terms the majority of people are poorer than ever. Th

> I suggest the rise of populism is caused by increases in wealth going to the very richest while in real terms the majority of people are poorer than ever. That's my working thesis as well. the increased in real poverty rate in the USA is causing the previously hidden tensions to be exposed and flexed. When the pie was large, it was easy to be easy. When the pie is small, ya gotta watch out for the neighbors taking your slice. Note, I've lived in the poor(er) white areas of rural America, and I've lived & worked in the rich(er) urban America. It's very hard to have genuine communication. The difference verges on the incommensurable.... from both sides.