We live in a complex, self-serving era where you don’t only choose your own self-validating media, but you choose your own definitions–from patriotism to populism. The latter used to refer to prioritizing “the people,” as in average—not elites. “The people,” as in workers, not the wealthy.
Now we have an election where both sides employ populist rhetoric. One side does it, because it still reflects what it stands for. The other side does it, because hypocrisy and disingenuousness seem to work. It also sees opportunity with greed heads, the Clampett vote and a cult-figure candidacy. So what if CEO’s now make 68 times what the typical worker makes.
The Democratic ticket, VP Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, are alums of Howard University and Mankato State, respectively. Both Donald Trump and JD Vance have Ivy League resumes.
Trump is renown for being born rich, pushing tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest, stiffing sub-contractors, orchestrating real estate red lining, pushing nativism, preying on females, keeping his taxes as inaccessible as his Penn grades, being oligarch-friendly and insulting the military. A populist? No, this is not a William Jennings Bryan sequel.
Before becoming a senator and vice president, Harris, the daughter of immigrants, worked her way through law school and into the role of prosecutor and California attorney general. She prosecuted those who imperiled every-day Americans–from bank fraudsters to drug pushers. Her running mate is a former high school social studies teacher and football coach. “Coach Walz” is an avatar of populism and Mid-West neighborliness, a status that is deep rooted.
And no, JD, the path to a better America has nothing to do with “childless cat ladies.”