Populism

Stephen Harpers book on the the topoc of Populism really is proving insightful. He is not fan of Trump nor does he think is a real conservative. He takes his shots at him. This was interesting. 

"The same pundits, press, and pollsters who deemed Trump utterly unelectable are now telling us why he won. They have become instant experts on what happened and what to do about it. If you are not skeptical, you should be. 

The good thing is that we do not have to look under rocks or rely on Talking Heads for the answer. Trump is trying out these really not that much of a mystery. The president has been Frank about the economic and social forces that motivated his voters and ultimately put him in the White House. In truth, he saw these Transit earlier and more clearly than anyone else. We need look no further than Trump's inaugural speech. It was a clear distillation of what was behind the populist uprising in 2016.......   

There were four major themes that came out of the speech (Trumps Inaugural). They were unique. They distinguish Trump's approach from those long taken by establishment politicians in both major parties. 

The first was, for lack of a better term, a certain economic realism. Particularly atypical for a Republican, there was no talk about the morality of the markets or praise of economic liberty. This was not a speech for think-tank Scholars or philosophical conservatives. Instead, Trump articulated a hard-headed focus on bringing industry back to America and restoring jobs for American workers. 

The second was trade. Trump challenged the assumption that free trade is inherently and always good for the United States. He called and trade deals that create and uneven playing field between American-based firms and international competitors, particularly trade agreements with China and Mexico. 

The third was nationalism, which includes the America First philosophy. Trump criticized representatives from both parties for putting Global priorities ahead of national imperatives. He pledged to govern in the national interest without nuance  or apology. 

The final thing was immigration. Trump broke with the bipartisan consensus in its favor. He notably rejected policy that effectively allows large numbers of low-skilled workers into the country......

While each of these subjects deserves further discussion, Trump did not have much to say about practical solutions. There were few policy proposals or commitments that went beyond slogans like "winning again." Eighteen months into his presidency, this is still proving to be a weakness. 

This does not, however, diminish Trump's insight into the electorate. It does not change the fact that he saw things that much more experienced observers had not. Indeed, in his inaugural speech, he was telling us what he had tapped into and why he won. He was reviewing the blueprint that got him to that Podium and into the Oval Office."

- Stephen Harper. Right Here Right Now: Politics and Leadership In the Age of Disruption 

- Stephen Harper. Right Here Right Now: Politics and Leadership In the Age of Disruption