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'Populist'

(56 Posts)
eazybee Mon 27-May-19 12:01:07

Populist: relating to or characteristic of a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.

So it is perfectly all right to apply this term to Brexit or UKIP, (please note term 'ordinary') but not to the Greens, because it is their self-appointed mission to tell everyone else what not to do.

Nonnie Mon 27-May-19 11:59:58

Why can't they simply say what they mean because I think many of us are unsure about it?

I had to look up 'gammon' too. Wondering why we have to change the use of words, phobic means irrational fear of so why is it used to mean something else? I am sad we have lost the word 'gay' as it had a lovely meaning and it wasn't necessary to take it over for something else. Perhaps I'm just getting old?

TerriBull Mon 27-May-19 11:18:25

.....and what My cat has just said.

Mycatisahacker Mon 27-May-19 11:12:46

It’s a sneery patronising expression from the political elite to try and snub and silence people’s views.

It led us to this present Brexit mess.,

TerriBull Mon 27-May-19 11:11:07

My understanding is that the word is used in a pejorative way to describe something that could be deemed "lowbrow", for example "The Sun" newspaper which I believe may have the highest circulation, although not absolutely sure if that is the case. Nevertheless it could be considered that it's not the most intelligent of publications in the stance it takes in that it has been known to scrape the bottom of the barrel.

Labaik Mon 27-May-19 10:52:20

Can someone please explain to me why some parties are described as 'populist' because it seems to me that it only seems to be applied to rather right wing parties. Shouldn't the Greens and LibDems be described as 'populist' given that they are now gaining lots of votes and seem to be 'popular' at the moment. It surely makes a part seem rather 'jolly'. I know I shouldn't use the 'H' word but that's what I'm thinking so I'll have to but would Hitlers party, before WWI be described as populist? Can I please just have a sensible explanation as I genuinely want to know. Thank you.