Current Populists?

Question

I've heard the media refer to Lou Dobbs and John Edwards as Populists. I watched Lou Dobbs a lot when I had cable and he seems to be a Democrat that differs though on immigration and he seems to be somewhat of an isolationist. I know Edwards wants fair trade. What exactly makes these two Populists? A government/economics teacher I had in high school had his students take a survey to that would plot them in a party based on their positions on issues. There was a box split into 4 sections: Libertarian top left, Democrat bottom left, Republican top right, and Populist bottom right. The more economically conservative you were the higher your dot would be placed (in the Libertarian or Republican sections) and vice versa for the Democratic and Populist Sections. The more socially conservative you were the more rightward your dot would be placed (in the Republican or Populist sections) and vice versa for the Libertarian and Democratic sections.

I was around the middle of the Democratic section economically; but far to the right in the Democratic section socially. If I were just a tad bit more conservative, I would have been placed in the Populist section.

Answer 1

My take on what populism is is that is opposes elite power that takes away the rights of people..and rather aims to achieve popular empowerment through means that are beyond political parties such as cooperatives and unions and cultural activity. many times they play to groups of people such as the middle class or working class and appeal to minorities and the common man. They basically want to stand up to the elite and give a voice to the people that the political parties don't. But that's funny that Edwards calls himself populist when he won't even talk to his neighbors who live in a trailor park next to his huge house. Edwards is a fraud.

Answer 2

All to often we find ourselves consumed with labeling people inorder to find an explanation as to why they believe the way they do. What is a Populist, or a Democrat or a Conservative? If you have the answer you are further along in this democracy than most of us.

Lou Dobbs has stated that he simply believes that if it is right for the majority of Americans than we should do it. John Edwards often displays the same tendencies, but is clearly someone who wants public office, whereas Lou Dobbs has never stated such.

The intricate parts of your question are, like politics, somewhat confusing. If we lived on a farm and were totally dependent upon the land and how we worked that land, our politics would be very simple: if it is good for the land, then it is good for us.

Answer 3

Nowadays, a populist is just someone who appeals to the common people on an issue that is of importance to them. Dobbs picked immigration in order to salvage his career as an anchor. Edwards has chosen the gulf between the rich and the poor as an election issue.

Answer 4

Lou Dobbs and John Edwards appeal to the people in order to know their politics. The populist approach is just like demagogy and the main mode of getting support is to get the attention of the people.