The Current Zeitgeist

A number of excellent columns have cropped up lately defining the national mood, its problems and remedies; particularly as it relates to populist expectations and disappointments and, to me more importantly, the actual culpability of the public at large. First a nice feature by that excellent writer Anna Quindlen, that appeared in Newsweek, followed by a piece by George Will that ran in the Washington Post.

The first few lines - followed by a link to the full story:

"By the time the current political cycle is over, the term "populist" will have become a buzzword so misused and abused that it will be leached of all real meaning. The dictionary definitions refer to the agrarian political party of the late 19th century, then segue into the use of the term that modern politicians have learned to embrace: "a believer in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/232833/output/print

Populism's Problems

This is an excellent piece by George Will; not really for the headline of Sarah Palin (which is true) but more for the problems faced by populism and it's prospects. The link to the full story is below, but two really great paragraphs....:

"America, its luck exhausted, at last has a president from the academic culture, that grating blend of knowingness and unrealism. But the reaction against this must somewhat please him. That reaction is populism, a celebration of intellectual ordinariness. This is not a stance that will strengthen the Republican Party, which recently has become ruinously weak among highly educated whites. Besides, full-throated populism has not won a national election in 178 years, since Andrew Jackson was reelected in 1832......

"Populism has had as many incarnations as it has had provocations, but its constant ingredient has been resentment, and hence whininess. Populism does not wax in tranquil times; it is a cathartic response to serious problems. But it always wanes because it never seems serious as a solution.

Political nature abhors a vacuum, which is what often exists for a year or two in a party after it loses a presidential election. But today's saturation journalism, mesmerized by presidential politics and ravenous for material, requires a steady stream of political novelties. In that role, Palin is united with the media in a relationship of mutual loathing. This is not her fault. But neither is it her validation. "

Full Column- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/17/AR2010021703507_pf.html

The Resolved Elitist

I've come to the conclusion that I'm an unabashed elitist. While the conventional mood that somehow Congress and the President aren't paying enough attention to the mob....this populist uproar over every manner of perceived error; from bailouts to spending, etc....I think they're paying TOO MUCH attention to them. The mob has no clue about what the issues are and how they're addressed. And worse, they're led astray by all manner of partisan charlatans with a political agenda. Case in point; in the recent senate election in Massachusetts, of all the people who voted for him because they wanted to stop health care reform, 41% of them couldn't explain why!!

Temper Tantrums

I was struck recently by the disillusionment by some friends over the unfulfilled promises of President Obama; namely the lack of C-Span coverage in every meeting, the involvement of lobbyists in the administration, etc. These folks are 1) not involved in politics or policy and 2) not educated or have ever been involved in management - which explains much of their frustration. I want to say, "well, duh!!" It's not their cynicism that bothers me. It's their naivete turned anger.....or maybe idealism and innocence. They remind me of little kids who find out there's no Santa Claus and teenagers who get their hearts broken. It's rough when you find out the world is a cruel, cold place and that reality is much more pragmatic than the public myths.