The Sleeping Dog of Populism

Published May 05 2009
By Bernie Hughes, Ed.D

Waking the sleeping dog of populism

Populism has been something of a sleeping dog. It is defined as supporting the rights and powers of the common people in the struggle with the privileged elite. Originally known as the People’s Party, it became the Populist in 1891 when the Knights of Labor and Farmer’s Alliance merged..
By: Bernie Hughes, Superior Telegram

Populism has been something of a sleeping dog. It is defined as supporting the rights and powers of the common people in the struggle with the privileged elite. Originally known as the People’s Party, it became the Populist in 1891 when the Knights of Labor and Farmer’s Alliance merged..

Populism has once again come into its own. Wall Street capitalism has run amuck. Newsweek magazine, as an example, devoted a recent cover and featured article to populist rage. The straw that broke the backs of the common American was the recent bonus scandal. People making the big money, having played a key role in our present financial crisis, now have the unmitigated gall to claim a taxpayer financed reward.

Populists believe that money has to be earned. Perfectly competent, hard working, minimum wage workers are now being laid off, while people responsible for our present economic crisis are being paid millions to stay on.

“Common” people include the middle class which is being squeezed unmercifully. In the name of beneficial world trade, their economic roof has caved in. Jobs that were paying relatively good wages have been outsourced to foreign countries that can supply workers for a fraction of U.S. wages.

Corporations have moved overseas claiming (with a straight face, I might add) that the moves were been a necessary for them to find qualified workers.

What about the companies that haven’t moved overseas? Some businesses have reduced staff, some have hired undocumented workers, many who have come from Mexico, willing to work at considerably lower wages.

The first U.S. president that I came to know was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He realized that the common people were suffering the pains of the Depression. He provided the leadership in a desperate period of our American history to bring us out of that dark time.

It required governmental action big time (CCC, WPA, NRA, TVA and that list goes on and on). Today, once again, government is stepping in big time.

The privileged elite aren’t faring as well as they believe they deserve.

Forbes magazine was able to showcase the millionaires (now it is billionaires), but they seem to be like the farmer who is quoted to have said, “I’m not greedy, all I want is the land that joins mine.” But, not all the privileged elite have those inclinations. Warren Buffet, one of the exceptions, has regularly spoken and acted for the common people.

Now Bill Gates, Jr. is doing public service work with his billions.

Today, the wizard word seems to be “privatization.” G.W. Bush spent a good portion of his presidential effort bleating the benefits of it. Those suspicious of government felt that when anything can be done privately it should be done privately.

Luckily, privatization of social security has not been warmly received by U.S. citizens, even though past president Bush devoted much effort for that cause.

Privatization has moved into a variety of new areas such as national defense — even wartime efforts. Haliburton has received some very profitable no bid contracts. Money and goods have been tunneled into Iraq and subsequent efforts for accountability have been discouraging.

To make a sad story even sadder, the Democratic legislators who formerly had the reputation of being for the common people are wavering. Why? Because campaigns have become very expensive and the privileged elite have the money.

In fact they have even more money now with tax deductions favoring them. Both political parties have decided, unfortunately, which side their bread is buttered.

And the common people, too often, unfortunately, will be receiving the best government that the privileged elite is willing to buy.


Bernie Hughes, Ed.D., is a retired educator who resides in Superior. He can be reached at Bernie1@cpinternet.com.


http://www.superiortelegram.com/event/article/id/34913/group/home/