woolybanana Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 The word Populism has been bandied around a lot in France and Europe these last few days with reference to the emergence of mainly right wing (in Greece, left) parties which have challenged the established order. But, what does it mean in the end, as it seems only the expression of a vote or a feeling by voters? Generally, there is a feeling that Populism is BAD and should be punished. Which implies that there is an opposite which is GOOD and should be rewarded. But, try as I might, I cannot come up with a word to sum up this goodness. Any ideas please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I think the problem is that "populist" approaches always seem to adopt solutions that can be can be summed up in the adage:"for every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, easy, obvious ......................... and TOTALLY WRONG!""Non-populist" approaches, on the other hand, always have some underlying wish/need to "educate" the population - and that brings along a whole other bunch of issues such as "fitness to vote", or coercion, or totalitarianism ...President Pickles would sort out all of these problems ... but I'm not sure how many of you lot would survive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 I don't think that Populism is necessarily bad but the extreme Left and Right wings have taken it up as a rallying cry and the extremes of anything are usually regarded as bad.The opposite is hegemony which I think can be very bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 Pierre, how strange, but I thought that was what hedgehogs used to buy stuff!Well, hegemony is what many people (roughly 25%) feel that France has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 ha ha wooly, you always brighten up my day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted May 28, 2014 Author Share Posted May 28, 2014 When hedgehogs have a fight it is called a 'hedgerow'!Every egg a bird Mrs, every egg a bird! And no, Oiseau, I didnt mean you. Just get packing svp.Hedgehog savings account is a 'hedgefund'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 [quote user="Pickles"]I think the problem is that "populist" approaches always seem to adopt solutions that can be can be summed up in the adage:"for every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, easy, obvious ......................... and TOTALLY WRONG!""Non-populist" approaches, on the other hand, always have some underlying wish/need to "educate" the population - and that brings along a whole other bunch of issues such as "fitness to vote", or coercion, or totalitarianism ...President Pickles would sort out all of these problems ... but I'm not sure how many of you lot would survive![/quote]Me, I'm for elitism; so, President Pickles, where is the dotted line on which I have to sign?[:D][:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomoss Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Elitism Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted May 28, 2014 Share Posted May 28, 2014 Un-populism which is what the main stream parties are at the moment, c'est tout!What do they expect these dreadful politicians who say that 'we' have to tighten our belts and life has to be hard and yet they and their cohorts happily keep their snouts in the trough. They say one thing when they want the vote and then don't do it or do the contrary. At some point 'the people' get fed up or annoyed and kick back. And the harder life is the more 'the people' kick back. Isn't populism a wake up call. I hope it is, because if that is what voters really want, then boy are we all in trouble.Incidentally on tv news yesterday they were saying that the federalists believed that due to the recent right wing voting the only way to deal with it was to have a completely federal EU. Which, IF I have understood means that the EU should take on even more powers, AND I think that even I would vote for an extreme party to stop that, I hate federal europe! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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