OK... but is there *actually* a motivation for conservative (big C and otherwise) to try and tame these populists? It's definitely a growing segment of the right-wing voting bloc, and as long as Facebook and Twitter are around to foment their rage and fill their heads with conspiracy theories, they seem to be quite content to carry on as they are
Martha and Henry, while be conservative, still had that progressive streak which I used to feel defined Canadian Politics. When the Conservatives abandoned the Progressives in their party and used a strategy of division and attack to win elections in the absence of some progressive planks in their policy there was a shift. And if the Conservative leadership contests Nationally and in Ontario are any indication, we won't be seeing Martha and Henry type sensibility any time soon.
Ken Boessenkool, unintentionally of course, is making an implicit argument for the drug Soma. As Huxley writes, "All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects."
The notion that Martha's and Henry's concerns can be addressed by political actors is a democracy non-starter. Too many 'freedom' and 'nation' invoking conservative/right wing politicians, fundamentalists religious leaders, and grifters (often the same) are making too much money and acquiring too much influence over public policy, public purses, and corporate largesse to stop feeding off and fertilizing Martha's and Henry's emotions.
Martha and Henry are the indoctrinated and propagandized prey for right wing, conservative, religious, and corporate (profit and non-profit) grifters.
Wishful thinking ("confirmation bias") and the Internet (where you can find anyone saying anything to an eager audience) is a dangerous combination. Today's example is Derek Sloan's petition against Covid vaccines.
One factor that may make it hard for conservatives to resist the lure of whipping up populist anger: it's an awesome fundraising tool. Jake Bernstein suggests that this also explains Trump's hold over the Republican Party. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2020/04/23/republican-fundraising-pulpit/
Maybe a return to the per-vote subsidy would help the CPC resist the urge to lean into populism?
"just as only those on the left can tell the populists on the left that markets are necessary -"
My goodness what a bunch of malicious garbage. I am seriously considering a front seat at Hill Billy Elegy so I can play my banjo, squeal like a pig while banging my spoons off my knees. This has to be the most scathing analogy I have ever read but you forgot to throw in the white supremacy. If I were to say the same about you I would be banned from any social media site. Government is incompetent. Most people acknowledge that to some degree. They are rife with people such as yourself who are self centered, destructive and lacking in intellectual abilities, hence most other people would not hire them. Any person with brains stays as far away from the incompetence and waste as possible. The less Government and the morons with in them are present, the happier we are. Unlike those of your caliber that sit around bashing others while piling up massive debt as you sit in your pathetic vacuum listening to yourself speak because no one with any sense would bother taking the time to listen. The majority of Albertans dislike government as the bureaucratic overreach sucks the life blood from those who work hard to build something so government can take it and give to morons like you. Alberta has the youngest population of all Provinces and has the most entrepreneurial and innovative as well. We also have a population with one of the highest education levels which gives us an advantage. Not only do we strive and live off entrepreneurial skills and create things we are also the wealthiest Province in the country. For you to even consider the words you wrote as truth shows a complete lack of intelligence or being close to anything one would call inclusive. With people like you living in here its pretty hard to ever want to be a part of something as horrifically evil and twisted as those with your pathetic mind set. I thought this was a place for intellectuals to converse and discuss not to berate and minimize people. You are beyond redemption. Yet we are the deemed the bad people . Well folks all one has to do is just look at who does the most name calling and belittling and I guarantee you its not the Albertans.
OK... but is there *actually* a motivation for conservative (big C and otherwise) to try and tame these populists? It's definitely a growing segment of the right-wing voting bloc, and as long as Facebook and Twitter are around to foment their rage and fill their heads with conspiracy theories, they seem to be quite content to carry on as they are
Martha and Henry, while be conservative, still had that progressive streak which I used to feel defined Canadian Politics. When the Conservatives abandoned the Progressives in their party and used a strategy of division and attack to win elections in the absence of some progressive planks in their policy there was a shift. And if the Conservative leadership contests Nationally and in Ontario are any indication, we won't be seeing Martha and Henry type sensibility any time soon.
Ken Boessenkool, unintentionally of course, is making an implicit argument for the drug Soma. As Huxley writes, "All the advantages of Christianity and alcohol; none of their defects."
The notion that Martha's and Henry's concerns can be addressed by political actors is a democracy non-starter. Too many 'freedom' and 'nation' invoking conservative/right wing politicians, fundamentalists religious leaders, and grifters (often the same) are making too much money and acquiring too much influence over public policy, public purses, and corporate largesse to stop feeding off and fertilizing Martha's and Henry's emotions.
Martha and Henry are the indoctrinated and propagandized prey for right wing, conservative, religious, and corporate (profit and non-profit) grifters.
Wishful thinking ("confirmation bias") and the Internet (where you can find anyone saying anything to an eager audience) is a dangerous combination. Today's example is Derek Sloan's petition against Covid vaccines.
One factor that may make it hard for conservatives to resist the lure of whipping up populist anger: it's an awesome fundraising tool. Jake Bernstein suggests that this also explains Trump's hold over the Republican Party. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2020/04/23/republican-fundraising-pulpit/
Maybe a return to the per-vote subsidy would help the CPC resist the urge to lean into populism?
"just as only those on the left can tell the populists on the left that markets are necessary -"
An excellent example is Joseph Heath's "Filthy Lucre: Economics for People Who Hate Capitalism." https://web.archive.org/web/20131015162150/https://thewalrus.ca/q-and-a-joseph-heath/
My goodness what a bunch of malicious garbage. I am seriously considering a front seat at Hill Billy Elegy so I can play my banjo, squeal like a pig while banging my spoons off my knees. This has to be the most scathing analogy I have ever read but you forgot to throw in the white supremacy. If I were to say the same about you I would be banned from any social media site. Government is incompetent. Most people acknowledge that to some degree. They are rife with people such as yourself who are self centered, destructive and lacking in intellectual abilities, hence most other people would not hire them. Any person with brains stays as far away from the incompetence and waste as possible. The less Government and the morons with in them are present, the happier we are. Unlike those of your caliber that sit around bashing others while piling up massive debt as you sit in your pathetic vacuum listening to yourself speak because no one with any sense would bother taking the time to listen. The majority of Albertans dislike government as the bureaucratic overreach sucks the life blood from those who work hard to build something so government can take it and give to morons like you. Alberta has the youngest population of all Provinces and has the most entrepreneurial and innovative as well. We also have a population with one of the highest education levels which gives us an advantage. Not only do we strive and live off entrepreneurial skills and create things we are also the wealthiest Province in the country. For you to even consider the words you wrote as truth shows a complete lack of intelligence or being close to anything one would call inclusive. With people like you living in here its pretty hard to ever want to be a part of something as horrifically evil and twisted as those with your pathetic mind set. I thought this was a place for intellectuals to converse and discuss not to berate and minimize people. You are beyond redemption. Yet we are the deemed the bad people . Well folks all one has to do is just look at who does the most name calling and belittling and I guarantee you its not the Albertans.
Well stated Ken, I hope they are listening l!
Great read Ken. Really appreciated that as I've seen it happening with my own eyes.