Would you consider yourself a populist?

[Not_hard_to_find]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/14/Dobbs.Nov15/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Lou Dobbs says he is -- and there are more like him.

If not, why not?

 

[Filmproducer]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/14/Dobbs.Nov15/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Lou Dobbs says he is -- and there are more like him.

If not, why not?

Yes, to a certain extent

 

[DeeJay]

People of all political leaning consider themselfs Polpulists.

Populism is a political philosophy or rhetorical style that holds that the common person's interests are oppressed or hindered by the elite in society, and that the instruments of the state need to be grasped from this self-serving elite and used for the benefit and advancement of the people as a whole. Hence a populist is one who is perceived to craft his or her rhetoric as appeals to the economic, social, and common sense concerns of average people. Most scholarship on populism since 1980 has discussed it as a rhetorical style that can be used to promote a variety of political ideologies. Leaders of populist movements in recent decades have claimed to have been on both the left and the right (Canovan, Kazin, Betz) of the political spectrum, while some populists claim to be neither "left wing," "centrist" nor "right wing."
Populism is often thought of as in opposition to elitism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Populist

All I have to do is say that I think goverment should serve the common interest of the people. Now I am a populist.

The question should who in America does NOT consider themself a populist. Who would say "I think the goverment should only serve the interests of a select few" Nobody. Now we all may disagree with whos policies do what but everybody considers themselfs a populist.

 

[Not_hard_to_find]

All I have to do is say that I think goverment should serve the common interest of the people. Now I am a populist.

...but everybody considers themselfs a populist.

I disagree. Saying it doesn't make it so. There are many who do not consider themselves populist -- even if they state they are publicly, for only political purposes.

 

[LeBuick]

I know my views are not popular but they are mine so I live with them.

 

[DeeJay]

I disagree. Saying it doesn't make it so.

The question was who considers themself a populist. Not whos policies make them a populist. I was careful in my post to make that difference clear.

There are many who do not consider themselves populist -- even if they state they are publicly, for only political purposes.

Like who? Why would you state you are a populist and not consider yourself one. I think the vast majority of politions think their policies are best for the people. I disagre with most of them, but again the question is who considers themself.

Edit to add: Speaking of American politics. There are many outside of America that do not consider themselfs populists.

 

[DeeJay]

I know my views are not popular but they are mine so I live with them.

Your views do not have to be popular to be a populist.

Do you think that your views if put into policy would be good for the common American and not just good for an eliet few?

If so you are a populist, just like the vast majority of Americans.

Examples of non-populists would be dictators and monarkis who only want to bennifit the eliet, their familys and friends. They veiw their position as a right to their family and often think they are place in their position by God for their own benifit.