Repeating The 1930s
Why populism will destroy our civilization far more quickly than you may think
Ah, the joys of populism. It’s the perfect formula for electoral success, and the perfect formula for self-destruction. But what is at the core of today’s populism, seen around the globe?
Populism at its core is pandering to the ignorance, the folly, the greed, and the self-obsession of tens of millions of ordinary people who see no reason ever to exert themselves to learn even the slightest thing about any matter of importance.
Voters want more of everything but also want lower taxes. They don’t want to suffer health deficits but they want to be able to cram themselves with slop. They want easy answers to complex questions, and moreover those easy answers mustn’t involve them making any personal sacrifices. Someone else must always be to blame and someone else must always pay the price.
Brexit and Trump’s first victory in 2016 showed politicians all over the world that a majority of voters are in fact far more ignorant and far more stupid than anyone had hitherto dared to believe. Today, that lesson enables an ever-larger crew of motley charlatans, frauds, incompetents, and compulsive liars to rise to the highest offices of their respective nations. Promise people the metaphorical equivalent of free…
