I was listening to a podcast the other day and two intellectual
conservatives were discussing the return of populism in our current political environment. Populism is a range of political approaches that deliberately appeal to "the people," often juxtaposing this group against a so-called "elite." (That definitely sounds familiar!)
The two conservatives were somewhat confounded why populism has made a return during this economic environment since the last time populism had any resonance in the United States was in an economic depression. We're currently NOT in an economic depression.
I have a theory of why populism has found its' footing again in America. No, we are not in an economic depression but perhaps we in a cultural depression? The economic depression of the '30s was largely brought on because the public didn't trust any of the financial institutions.
Slowly but surely in the past 50 years, we have experienced a revolution that has upended the American culture. Our families, neighborhoods, and communities are forever changed. There is a lack of trust in our cultural institutions.
I don't know how anyone can look at the cultural landscape of America and have an upbeat outlook. The Sexual Revolution destroyed the American family. No longer are children born to parents in a stable marriage. Our drug culture sees thousands of people dying of drug overdoses and absolutely decimating whole communities. Americans
aren't volunteering or attending church like previous generations.
Therefore, they don't have that sense of community civic and religious participation brings. Our art (music, movies, fine art) hardly has any redeeming value. Academia is not preparing young minds for real careers but some Utopian made-up world.
Maybe what we are experiencing is a cultural depression, not an economic depression? America is a wealthy nation and has been for a while. What good is wealth if you're disconnected from your family and community? The hard part of achieving the American Dream (finding a well-paying job to support a family) used to be finding a well-paying job but now it seems the family part is going array.
Now back to populism. I think people see all this cultural decay and blame the cultural "elites". American culture is falling apart and we want to blame somebody instead of ourselves. We're asking for the government to come in and take the place where family, community, faith used to occupy and it's only leaving us more empty and........depressed.