Who's A Populist? It's Time to Act on the Ingredients of Change Sitting in Our Laps

[xchrom]

Last edited Mon Mar 10, 2014, 07:28 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.alternet.org/visions/whos-populist-its-time-act-ingredients-change-sitting-our-laps



***SNIP

Well, that’s their problem. But we Democrats are facing a big question of identity, too. Who will we be? Will our party be the home of populist, grassroots Democrats (both “little-d” democrats as well as big-D Dems)? Or will it be a bastion of Jamie Dimon–Wall Street Democrats?

Your Progressive Caucus is the key to answering that. You have achieved a strong presence inside Congress, and you now have a unique potential to amplify your voice by linking with us “outsiders”—i.e., the vibrant and growing network of activist progressive groups and unattached mad-as-hellers across the country. You have both the official standing and political credibility to rally our forces into something bigger and more cohesive than our many separate entities, thus creating a more effective national force for confronting the corporate plutocracy that is fast enthroning itself over the people’s democratic sovereignty.

Your theme at this summit, “Building a Progressive America,” is both right and doable, and your focus on populism is the right blueprint for getting it done. First, let’s make clear to a confused mass media what populism is not. It is not Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Grover Norquist or the Koch-funded, corporate-hugging, laissez-fairyland ideologues of the Tea Party. Nor is it a meaningless tag for lazy media outlets to attach to any spasm of popular discontent.

Rather, populism is the un-corporate America. It is a distinctive, very progressive and very American democratic -ism that not only acts politically but also economically, socially and culturally. As old as the USA itself, populism has a rich egalitarian philosophy, a deep history, noble accomplishments, and a broad reach that cuts right through the conventional political boxes that are deliberately designed to divide us.

[demwing]

1. K&R /nt

[pipoman]

2. No, the DNC isn't going populist any time soon. .

Nor is the RNC. The rise of the rank and file occupy and tea party is the sign of alienated and disenfranchised having enough of their respective partys. The alienated and disenfranchised on both sides have some interests in common. If they come together, as they should, they are a force to be reckoned with.