More accurate word for "populism" : "assholism"

[lagomorph777]

We would also need forms of the word for different contexts:

Addressing the leader of the movement: "Your Assholiness"
Referring to said leader: "His Assholiness"
Addressing one of the followers: "Hey Asshole!"

Referring to some of the traits that make up the movement: "Assholistic"

Behaviors of the members of the movement: "Assholery"

Insinuating somebody is on the fringe of the movement: "Assholian"

Members of the media, addicted to supporting the movement: "Assoholics"

[BlueIdaho]

1. Would be funnier

If it hadn’t already taken over much of what Americans call “their thinking” and “My Freedoms”

[sop]

2. Republican populism has become a euphemism for white supremacy.

Republicans' version of "populism" excludes minorities and only benefits white christians. They only support populism when it's combined with their other favorite isms: racism, nationalism, nativism, miltarism, jingoism and capitalism.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. Funny years ago

My dream was to create a self sustaining community.. the big plus it would be an asshole free zone.

No narcissists,authoritarians or sociopaths,no addicts or alcoholics( sorry I know its a disease). But this disease causes strife theft and abuse in families and communities.

No arrogant
millionaires. No shit stirrers or busybodies. No people pushing religion or salesman religions. No conservatives or right wingers.

I would have people sign behavioral contract.

It would be a wonderful place.
Yes people would be free to speak thier minds but there is a crossover point where having strong opinions turns abusive.

It would be flexible but no abuse.

Since assholes have the rest of the entire world.
I should make an asshole free zone without them in it.

[lagomorph777]

5. I did that for a year once.

I lived alone.

I hope I met all my criteria.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

6. I did it when I lived in the house my mom

left because she wanted to live near her sisters and brothers in VA.

There were some bumps in the road.
But it was successful.

Those years when all was well were the best years of my life.

Now that the house has been sold to pay for the house my mom bought in VA,it since has ceased to be.

And the people who lived in " the fortress"with me are still my best friends.

And they now dream of creating asshole free zones of thier own.

[WarGamer]

4. Populism isn't a dirty word... here's some reading for you.

Most progressives have a lot of populist viewpoints.

https://www.fpri.org/article/2020/06/populism-in-american-elections-bernie-sanders-and-donald-trump/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-31/the-year-progressive-populism-roared-back-in-america

In the last few years, populism had to sit and watch as political pundits applied her name to a trend of right-wing movements worldwide, some of which might have been more aptly served by the appellations xenophobic, solipcistic, and racist (see Brazil, Italy…the United States.)

But in 2018, progressive populism roared back. On the last day of 2018, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren announced she is exploring a run for president, with what Waleed Shahid of the group Justice Democrats described as a “message of multiracial populism,” in The New York Times.

And Sen. Sherrod Brown:

“It’s important that Democratic progressives make a distinction between President Trump’s ‘phony populism’ and a true populist message, which does not divide on racial or religious lines.”

[Boomerproud]

12. Responding to Senator Brown's quote...

Why aren't they doing it?

[WhiskeyGrinder]

7. Populism and assholism is pretty synonymous. Populism always requires an "other" no matter what

flavor it is.

[WarGamer]

8. you sure?

And Sen. Sherrod Brown:

“It’s important that Democratic progressives make a distinction between President Trump’s ‘phony populism’ and a true populist message, which does not divide on racial or religious lines.”

[WhiskeyGrinder]

9. Yep.

Populism relies on the idea that only certain kinds of people are "real" or "ordinary," and while the definition depends on a variety of things (including one's own identity), as a result it relies on some people being "others." As a stand-alone political ideology, it's vague, tricky and poorly defined; as a frame or flavor on other ideologies, it ultimately ends up diluting them.

[WarGamer]

10. good counter argument.

But I certainly think populism has a place in politics, particularly progressive politics.

The country is ALREADY divided between the rich and poor... so identifying "ordinary hard working Americans" as the US-Group is appropriate while calling the "wealthy billionaires" the OTHER-Group...

Populists highlight and contrast the two groups to motivate groups of supporters.

And the truth is... the poor in this country have legitimate reason to feel forgotten, to feel abandoned.

Populist POLICIES can bring relief to that group.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

11. .

But I certainly think populism has a place in politics, particularly progressive politics.

It does, absolutely, because the concept of progressive politics relies on the idea that the "ordinary" Americans are being taken advantage of by evil, greedy un-American billionaires, and that holding one group as more worthy over the other will correct that dynamic.

The country is ALREADY divided between the rich and poor... so identifying "ordinary hard working Americans" as the US-Group is appropriate while calling the "wealthy billionaires" the OTHER-Group...

But populism doesn't always divide on rich and poor. Economic populism does.

Populists highlight and contrast the two groups to motivate groups of supporters.

Right, which is why I said "Populism and assholism is pretty synonymous. Populism always requires an 'other' no matter what flavor it is." Sometimes the "other" is racialized. Sometimes it's genderized. Sometimes it's conceptualized around class or economic standing. But no matter what, it always depends on the idea that some people are The People, and others are not.

[WarGamer]

13. Well written and thanks for the thoughts...