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For the majority of cases, it just means "ignore the complexity of reality and go with the simple solution". Sometimes, populists do really believe in what the

by hkpack 3y ago

For the majority of cases, it just means "ignore the complexity of reality and go with the simple solution". Sometimes, populists do really believe in what they are saying and doing. And the simplicity is what makes them popular - hence populism. The problem is that reality doesn't care. I have yet to see the case when following a populist leader doesn't end up in a disaster.

LAC-Tech 3y ago
Essentially a meaningless term then. Everyone in mainstream politics has to present some kind of simple solution that ignores the complexities of the problem, because you can't pass a complex solution through a media filter and get voters out the other side. So everything is populist. Again which makes the term meaningless.
- eduction 3y ago
  It is not the fault of a “media filter”. It has been possible to bypass that filter for years but the direct media we see is plainly more dumbed down than what is in the press (YouTube videos, tweets, tiktok, candidate websites, elected official websites - AOC and Trump media are two examples from opposite sides of the spectrum of the shallowness that comes up without the “media filter” - I appreciate the direct raw thoughts but there is a lot of basically insult slinging, virtue signalling to their camps - you see very little in the way of deep policy - the only example I can think of is aoc’s green new deal video - which was made in cooperation with a media outlet)
- hkpack 3y ago
  Term doesn't become meaningless even if everyone is doing it. Current state of society influenced by tech progress is what causing the current rise of populism. There are politicians who are rooting for reality, but it indeed becomes more difficult for them to survive.
- notahacker 3y ago
  Not everyone's simplification of their solution boils down to "The $scapegoat is the cause of all your problems. The solution is to give me more powers. If you hear anything bad about me, it comes from $scapegoat" though...
- FrustratedMonky 3y ago
  That is correct. To communicate a leader must boil down complex issues. To explain effectively. It probably comes down to a word count and what can be chanted. Take immigration, very complex. Populist "Build a Wall". Super simple, can be chanted. A more Capable Leader might take several sentences, or paragraphs to digest such a difficult subject. Still simplified, still glossing over a lot, but trying to convey some concept. It can't be chanted, and it still takes the listener some brain power to process. Basically Anger. If you can come up with a slogan, that people can chant angrily -> "Populist".
  - synecdoche 3y ago
    Generally, even though an issue is complex it doesn't necessarily follow that the conclusion or solution, after analysing all possible aspects, must be complex. It may be simple. Or, conversely, that if a conclusion is simple to implement, it doesn't necessarily follow that the issue or analysis was simple.
TeeMassive 3y ago
The alternative is what? Always defer to expert elites just because they pretend to have a grasp on the "complexity of reality" as good philosopher kings? How did that ever not ended up in disaster and the worse calamities?

by hkpack 3y ago

LAC-Tech 3y ago

Essentially a meaningless term then. Everyone in mainstream politics has to present some kind of simple solution that ignores the complexities of the problem, because you can't pass a complex solution through a media filter and get voters out the other side. So everything is populist. Again which makes the term meaningless.

eduction 3y ago
It is not the fault of a “media filter”. It has been possible to bypass that filter for years but the direct media we see is plainly more dumbed down than what is in the press (YouTube videos, tweets, tiktok, candidate websites, elected official websites - AOC and Trump media are two examples from opposite sides of the spectrum of the shallowness that comes up without the “media filter” - I appreciate the direct raw thoughts but there is a lot of basically insult slinging, virtue signalling to their camps - you see very little in the way of deep policy - the only example I can think of is aoc’s green new deal video - which was made in cooperation with a media outlet)
hkpack 3y ago
Term doesn't become meaningless even if everyone is doing it. Current state of society influenced by tech progress is what causing the current rise of populism. There are politicians who are rooting for reality, but it indeed becomes more difficult for them to survive.
notahacker 3y ago
Not everyone's simplification of their solution boils down to "The $scapegoat is the cause of all your problems. The solution is to give me more powers. If you hear anything bad about me, it comes from $scapegoat" though...
FrustratedMonky 3y ago
That is correct. To communicate a leader must boil down complex issues. To explain effectively. It probably comes down to a word count and what can be chanted. Take immigration, very complex. Populist "Build a Wall". Super simple, can be chanted. A more Capable Leader might take several sentences, or paragraphs to digest such a difficult subject. Still simplified, still glossing over a lot, but trying to convey some concept. It can't be chanted, and it still takes the listener some brain power to process. Basically Anger. If you can come up with a slogan, that people can chant angrily -> "Populist".
- synecdoche 3y ago
  Generally, even though an issue is complex it doesn't necessarily follow that the conclusion or solution, after analysing all possible aspects, must be complex. It may be simple. Or, conversely, that if a conclusion is simple to implement, it doesn't necessarily follow that the issue or analysis was simple.

TeeMassive 3y ago

The alternative is what? Always defer to expert elites just because they pretend to have a grasp on the "complexity of reality" as good philosopher kings? How did that ever not ended up in disaster and the worse calamities?