National populism is characterized by four realities in the body politique.
1.) Distrust
National populism could not gain traction were it not for the widespread distrust by Joe and Sally Sixpack that Johnny and Mary Elite are selling them out. National Populism gains steam because of this public distrust. Barack Obama understood this when he talked about people clinging to their guns and religion and then Obama gave them every reason to keep clinging to their guns and religion. The rank and file, while perhaps not wise, are not stupid. They can see that they were the losers in the 2008 bail out where those who caused the crisis were those who profited by the crisis. They can see that it is the future of they and their seed that is being sold out by the open borders elite. They can see that their clergy and churches are no longer places that can be trusted. Distrust of the elite makes for populism.
2.) Destruction
National Populism is National populism because the historic Europeans and Americans have a sense that the Elite intend to cut their throats. From being forced to accept wild Immigration to being forced to shut up via strident political correctness to the ever shrinking ownership of the American pie, the traditional American realizes that they are playing for keeps and that if they do not respond with a National Populist impulse they will be sleep with the fishes.
3.) Deprivation
There is a sense among the historic Americans that the future is not promissory of something better for their children then it was for them. This strikes at the heart of the age old concept of the American dream. Traditional Americans are convinced that they are being deprived the future, the income, and the identity that was their birthright and the birthright of their parents before them. Their dollar buys less, their employment is less certain, and their safety less taken for granted. National Populism rolls because of this sense of deprivation.
4.) De-Alignment
The old alignments are failing. This is in part because of the Academic community’s ability to destroy meta-narrative narratives. As such there is a weakening of bonds between what was once traditional alliances. Increasingly the idea of a “mainstream” of thought or tradition or party loyalty has disappeared. This has in turn allowed for a desire to de-align from old alignments and to realign with the idea of Nation as found in National Populism.
National populism rolls because of the presence of these culturally characteristic traits. One can be sure that now that the genie is out of the bottle National Populism is NOT going away. The impulse is going to continue to identify with a point of stability and that point of stability is going to be found in the Nation — a point of stability that has survived for over 500 years.
Great insight Bret. If a little bad language doesnt offend you, if you havent
seen the comedian George Carlin do The American Dream, it nails what you
just wrote in a pretty insightful bit of comedy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ4SSvVbhLw&list=RDkJ4SSvVbhLw&start_radio=1&t=16
Gray