Moderator from USA Today Ms. Susan Page interviewed Mr. Darrell M. West, VP of Brookings on his most recent book regarding the Trump phenomenon in American politics. Autocracy frequently features a populist leader that enamors himself with the people. It's a cult worship of the leader, who in the eyes of the citizenry is virtually St. Peter at the pearly gates of heaven welcoming in the true believers!
Once it is found out that this "St. Peter" is only a man, heading a government, possibly representing a rich cartel of business leaders, the people don't know what to do. Should they continue to follow him or look yet for another? Is this St. Peter not the guide to the heavenly kingdom on earth?
Mr. West assured us in his presentation that he is both a conservative from his rural roots and a progressive by his joining the university crowd of scholars and analysts. Therefore, he has the wisdom to recognize a con artist from a politician interested in improving the lot of the average citizen. And what that average citizen is in quest of during his time on earth is personal economic opportunity to develop his God-given talents for himself and his family.
But the populist is out to maintain a system he has created that benefits himself, above all, and his coterie of devotees. Accordingly, Mr. Trump falls into the category of populist leaders as rule in Hungary, Turkey, Brazil, and the Philippines--brutally, egotistic and swaggering!
Ms. Page asked the question of Dr. West, how can we make sure to know an egotistical populist, when he runs for office to take money from the regular people to benefit his coterie of licensed bandits of the public till? Page recommends: make sure there's a very large number of citizens that vote; insist corporations pay their fair share in taxes; expect from your democratic government the opportunity of freedom to all to climb the economic ladder to the top through one's own effort and ingenuity; and seek to establish innovative voting practices such as rank choice voting as in Alaska whose voters want to find the best qualified leaders for themselves.
For in America democracy works through institutions within it to make good its promise for fairness and equality of all persons. It is that which makes the passing on of the baton of governmental leadership to the next President every four years or so, an easy thing for the former President to do (in a democracy).
My take on Mr. West's interesting conversation with Ms. Page..
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