Populism KILLS Democracy, and How to Stop It.
If you’re new to my channel, my name is Steve Sandford. I started this channel because I couldn't find any independent journalists that cover issues that are important to Canadians. So rather than keep looking, I decided to get talking.
I enjoy answering questions and discussing topics important to you. Please comment to make your suggestions or email me at DominionReportCanada@gmail.com
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Stay calm, stay strong and elbows up.
#populisme #TribalPolitics #tribalism #Canadianelection
#canadianpolitics #canadanews #elbowsup
DISCLOSURE
Information shared here is for discussion purposes only. Individuals and corporations should always evaluate and verify information independently and always access for potential risks.
Copyright © 2025
CBC News, CTV News, Global News, Brian Tyler Cohen, CNN, Beau of the Fifth Column, Belle of the Ranch, Energi Media, BBC News, David Packman, Steve Boots
Speaking Notes:
Hello friends, I’m Steve Sandford, you’re watching Dominion Report
One of the concerns I have for Canada and for Canadian politics is the rise in populist themes. As we head into an election, I think it’s a good idea to talk ABOUT, populism, what that is, where it comes from, and where it leads.
At its core, populism is a political movement that begins by appealing to the common people, while condemning the “establishment” and the “political elites”
Now the meaning of the term has evolved over the decades, and there are still variations on the definition, but the type of populism I am talking about leans toward, and usually devolves into, political tribalism.
Populist movements generally flourish in times of widespread and chronic citizenry stress, usually financial.
Populism often – but not always – rallys around a charismatic leader.
That leader will generally speak to the core values and… even the underlying unspoken feelings of the population that is stressed
Often, that leader is more of an opportunist, using the challenges that the population is facing as a means to gain power by speaking to their concerns with half-truths and misinformation
Populism of this kind often leads to what some people call Tribal Politics
This happens when the leader develops a feverish base who is unquestioningly loyal, and hyper-motivated to vote for that leader
And this is the worst part of populism and tribal politics – the leader will play on the fears of that voting base to the point where they will alienate a separate portion of the population, scapegoat them, and vilify them. This is what some people refer to as “othering”.
Once a government starts to actively work for one portion of its citizenry while neglecting, or even abusing another portion of its citizenry, democracy and freedom are under direct threat.
Politics is supposed to be about differing beliefs on how to get to the same goal.
That goal being prosperity, security for the country, and long life and good health for the population – all the population. Traditional right wing and traditional left wing parties differ on how to get there, but agree on the goal.
They also agree on mutual respect, working together, compromise and give-and-take, a respect for the duly elected party’s mandate.
Plus, there is supposed to be an understanding, that if you are ARE the duly elected party, there will likely come a time where you won’t be and the other party will be, and you need to work together in both scenarios.
Populism and Tribal Politics undoes all of this. It paints the opposition party as the enemy. It presents portions of the population as the cause of the general public’s problems. At its full evolution, it leads to authoritarianism and fascism.
Let’s take a look at an example that comes to us from South of the border.
Trump is a classic populist practicing tribal politics.But he didn’t show up on the scene in a healthy and prosperous democracy. He showed up at a time when the middle class had been wiped of it’s purchasing power, and wealth transferred up to the 1% and the .1%.
By 2015, the top 1/10 of 1% of the population had a net worth over 12x that of bottom 50% of the population.
With political messaging, Trump stepped into something that had been brewing since at least Barry Goldwater and the Southern Strategy.
FDR’s New Deal (actually both of them) of the 1930s was credited with the post WWII financial success of the USA. Democrats rode that success politically, for years.
To fight against this success, Senator Barry Goldwater, a Republican presidential candidate in 1964, utilized what’s called the Southern Strategy.
This was an appeal to the deep south of the US, with throwbacks to the grievances of the US civil war. It employed racist dog-whistles, and coded language and policies on crime, states rights, and welfare, to attract white votes from the US South.
Although Goldwater didn’t win the presidency, Nixon used the Southern Strategy and did
Видео Populism KILLS Democracy, and How to Stop It. канала Dominion Report
I enjoy answering questions and discussing topics important to you. Please comment to make your suggestions or email me at DominionReportCanada@gmail.com
If you like this video, "like" this video. If you want to hear more from me, go ahead and subscribe.
Stay calm, stay strong and elbows up.
#populisme #TribalPolitics #tribalism #Canadianelection
#canadianpolitics #canadanews #elbowsup
DISCLOSURE
Information shared here is for discussion purposes only. Individuals and corporations should always evaluate and verify information independently and always access for potential risks.
Copyright © 2025
CBC News, CTV News, Global News, Brian Tyler Cohen, CNN, Beau of the Fifth Column, Belle of the Ranch, Energi Media, BBC News, David Packman, Steve Boots
Speaking Notes:
Hello friends, I’m Steve Sandford, you’re watching Dominion Report
One of the concerns I have for Canada and for Canadian politics is the rise in populist themes. As we head into an election, I think it’s a good idea to talk ABOUT, populism, what that is, where it comes from, and where it leads.
At its core, populism is a political movement that begins by appealing to the common people, while condemning the “establishment” and the “political elites”
Now the meaning of the term has evolved over the decades, and there are still variations on the definition, but the type of populism I am talking about leans toward, and usually devolves into, political tribalism.
Populist movements generally flourish in times of widespread and chronic citizenry stress, usually financial.
Populism often – but not always – rallys around a charismatic leader.
That leader will generally speak to the core values and… even the underlying unspoken feelings of the population that is stressed
Often, that leader is more of an opportunist, using the challenges that the population is facing as a means to gain power by speaking to their concerns with half-truths and misinformation
Populism of this kind often leads to what some people call Tribal Politics
This happens when the leader develops a feverish base who is unquestioningly loyal, and hyper-motivated to vote for that leader
And this is the worst part of populism and tribal politics – the leader will play on the fears of that voting base to the point where they will alienate a separate portion of the population, scapegoat them, and vilify them. This is what some people refer to as “othering”.
Once a government starts to actively work for one portion of its citizenry while neglecting, or even abusing another portion of its citizenry, democracy and freedom are under direct threat.
Politics is supposed to be about differing beliefs on how to get to the same goal.
That goal being prosperity, security for the country, and long life and good health for the population – all the population. Traditional right wing and traditional left wing parties differ on how to get there, but agree on the goal.
They also agree on mutual respect, working together, compromise and give-and-take, a respect for the duly elected party’s mandate.
Plus, there is supposed to be an understanding, that if you are ARE the duly elected party, there will likely come a time where you won’t be and the other party will be, and you need to work together in both scenarios.
Populism and Tribal Politics undoes all of this. It paints the opposition party as the enemy. It presents portions of the population as the cause of the general public’s problems. At its full evolution, it leads to authoritarianism and fascism.
Let’s take a look at an example that comes to us from South of the border.
Trump is a classic populist practicing tribal politics.But he didn’t show up on the scene in a healthy and prosperous democracy. He showed up at a time when the middle class had been wiped of it’s purchasing power, and wealth transferred up to the 1% and the .1%.
By 2015, the top 1/10 of 1% of the population had a net worth over 12x that of bottom 50% of the population.
With political messaging, Trump stepped into something that had been brewing since at least Barry Goldwater and the Southern Strategy.
FDR’s New Deal (actually both of them) of the 1930s was credited with the post WWII financial success of the USA. Democrats rode that success politically, for years.
To fight against this success, Senator Barry Goldwater, a Republican presidential candidate in 1964, utilized what’s called the Southern Strategy.
This was an appeal to the deep south of the US, with throwbacks to the grievances of the US civil war. It employed racist dog-whistles, and coded language and policies on crime, states rights, and welfare, to attract white votes from the US South.
Although Goldwater didn’t win the presidency, Nixon used the Southern Strategy and did
Видео Populism KILLS Democracy, and How to Stop It. канала Dominion Report
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