Friday, February 20, 2009
NEVER A POPULIST?
Much of his life, the Militant Moderate has considered himself a populist. Maybe he never was. This situation is worth some further thought and analysis.
What is a populist? A populist is supposed to be somebody whose thoughts and ideas are aligned with the best interests of the common man. Normally his ideas are supposed to be representative of the common man. Historically -- a Populist was a member of a political party born from the agrarian interests of the common man, and who believed in the unlimited coinage of silver to loosen a tight economy.
But a populist could be just anyone who has the best interests of the common man at heart.
If this latter definition holds, then the Militant Moderate is indeed a populist. On the other hand, if the definition requires that one mirror the views of the local common man, then the Militant Moderate is found wanting.
“Cultural populism” is different from political populism. But “redneck populism” is a form of cultural populism which generalizes to the political realm as well. Much of the south, and Oklahoma included, is said to be dominated culturally and politically by that form of populism.
Oklahoma is predominantly a “redneck populist” state, i.e. most of our citizens have ideas, values, and philosophies related to that definition or general stereotype. They vote for candidates who profess those ideas. They elect legislators who introduce, and sometimes pass, bills framed in anti-intellectual darkness. Campus gun carry bills are examples.
Their representatives do not believe in science. They reject global warming, and espouse teaching creationism in schools. They are religiously repulsed by the notion of using abandoned embryos for scientific research beneficial to health and life. They reject government regulation of business, but accept government interference in private bedrooms. They want to put monuments with the ten commandments on court house lawns rather than churches.
Redneck populists reject intellectualism and demean the importance of education unless it helps them to get a better paying job, or brings another job to town. The ideas of Nobel prize winning economists are placed on a par with those of Joe the Plumber in solving recession’s hardships.
Patriots wave flags for war, and effete intellectuals and sissies are for peace.
There is a popular new line clothing featuring sleeveless shirts, worn by and bearing the name of Oklahoma’s Toby Keith. We speak the language, and listen to the often crude, shallow lyrics of his music. If such is a part of our populism, then this populist is out of the groove and has always been so.
Far from being an elitist, the Militant Moderate has indeed, always and forever, had the interests of the common man at heart. His political philosophy has always been built around intelligent pursuit of such values.
But he is late in realizing that the common man does not always follow his own best interests, probably because he does not even recognize them. There is not much that a political populist can do for the masses unless they become aware of their own best interests.
Thomas Jefferson thought universal education and the common schools would assure that voters were properly informed, seen as necessary in a democracy. He thought the schools would give the citizens the ability to discern the good and the bad in politics, and to choose that which was good for the common man. He assumed learning the tools translated to use.
Unfortunately the schools have not been able to perform that function. They have become an influence secondary to the swirling culture around them. They are disrespected. Socialization is more of a cultural phenomenon than an educational outcome.
Attitudinal and personality adjustments may be even more difficult. Last week in a doctor’s waiting room, Martha Stewart had Bill Clinton on TV as a guest. An elderly man entered, looked, and growled loudly, “What have they got HIM on there for?” It is hard to change such irascible people.
So, the Militant Moderate will continue, as always, to be a misfit in the cultural populism which is Oklahoma.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
What is a populist? A populist is supposed to be somebody whose thoughts and ideas are aligned with the best interests of the common man. Normally his ideas are supposed to be representative of the common man. Historically -- a Populist was a member of a political party born from the agrarian interests of the common man, and who believed in the unlimited coinage of silver to loosen a tight economy.
But a populist could be just anyone who has the best interests of the common man at heart.
If this latter definition holds, then the Militant Moderate is indeed a populist. On the other hand, if the definition requires that one mirror the views of the local common man, then the Militant Moderate is found wanting.
“Cultural populism” is different from political populism. But “redneck populism” is a form of cultural populism which generalizes to the political realm as well. Much of the south, and Oklahoma included, is said to be dominated culturally and politically by that form of populism.
Oklahoma is predominantly a “redneck populist” state, i.e. most of our citizens have ideas, values, and philosophies related to that definition or general stereotype. They vote for candidates who profess those ideas. They elect legislators who introduce, and sometimes pass, bills framed in anti-intellectual darkness. Campus gun carry bills are examples.
Their representatives do not believe in science. They reject global warming, and espouse teaching creationism in schools. They are religiously repulsed by the notion of using abandoned embryos for scientific research beneficial to health and life. They reject government regulation of business, but accept government interference in private bedrooms. They want to put monuments with the ten commandments on court house lawns rather than churches.
Redneck populists reject intellectualism and demean the importance of education unless it helps them to get a better paying job, or brings another job to town. The ideas of Nobel prize winning economists are placed on a par with those of Joe the Plumber in solving recession’s hardships.
Patriots wave flags for war, and effete intellectuals and sissies are for peace.
There is a popular new line clothing featuring sleeveless shirts, worn by and bearing the name of Oklahoma’s Toby Keith. We speak the language, and listen to the often crude, shallow lyrics of his music. If such is a part of our populism, then this populist is out of the groove and has always been so.
Far from being an elitist, the Militant Moderate has indeed, always and forever, had the interests of the common man at heart. His political philosophy has always been built around intelligent pursuit of such values.
But he is late in realizing that the common man does not always follow his own best interests, probably because he does not even recognize them. There is not much that a political populist can do for the masses unless they become aware of their own best interests.
Thomas Jefferson thought universal education and the common schools would assure that voters were properly informed, seen as necessary in a democracy. He thought the schools would give the citizens the ability to discern the good and the bad in politics, and to choose that which was good for the common man. He assumed learning the tools translated to use.
Unfortunately the schools have not been able to perform that function. They have become an influence secondary to the swirling culture around them. They are disrespected. Socialization is more of a cultural phenomenon than an educational outcome.
Attitudinal and personality adjustments may be even more difficult. Last week in a doctor’s waiting room, Martha Stewart had Bill Clinton on TV as a guest. An elderly man entered, looked, and growled loudly, “What have they got HIM on there for?” It is hard to change such irascible people.
So, the Militant Moderate will continue, as always, to be a misfit in the cultural populism which is Oklahoma.
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
