378: What is populism, is it a good thing, and what about Javier Milei?

The boys drink and review Winter Storm, “a Category 5 ale” from Heavy Seas, then discuss populism in the U.S., and the career of Javier Milei.

Most politicians want to appear as an ordinary, regular person — at least when they’re campaigning — but a “populist” adds a critical element of a contrast between the people and the elite establishment, whom they ridicule or demonize.

Populism might become more prevalent when there’s more of a disparity between the rulers and the common man.

Populism is not left-wing or right-wing. Donald Trump is a populist, but so is Bernie Sanders. Populists appeal directly to the people and tend to bypass the establishment.

Left-wing populism has an economic focus and emphasizes economic and class struggle. They talk about redistributing resources, and are against corporations.

Right-wing populism has more of a focus on cultural and nationalistic issues. It tends to be anti immigrant.

There seems to have been more right-wing populism recently. This may be because of the growing power of the entrenched bureaucracy.

One criticism of populism is that you’re exchanging the educated, elite expert with the uneducated WalMart shoppers. The truth is that the educated elite don’t always get better results. U.S. education tanked after we created the Department of Education.

Javier Milei is a libertarian populist who recently won power in Argentina. He promises to drastically cut government spending and eliminate half of the government ministries.

“The thievery of politics is over,” he said.

It will be interesting to see how well he does.