Summary: Populism’s resurgence has, as always, terrified our ruling elites and their servants. Since most journalists don’t understand it, Campaign 2016 is a series of surprises to them. This excerpt from Walter Russell Mead’s famous essay about Andrew Jackson’s populism is a first step to doing so. First, populism is almost as old as the Republic (2016 is just its latest resurgence). Second, populism is different from conservatism…

From the early stirrings of his campaign, the similarities between Trump and Andrew Jackson were obvious — as seen in these superficial articles by PBS and The New York Post, and this recent one in the NYT. Trump’s isolationist foreign policy (but bellicose towards threats), his hostility to both Wall Street bankers and minorities, his concern for the poor, his appeal to national greatness — these astonished our elites in 1830 and again each time populism arises. They despised Jackson in 1830 as they despise Trump today.

Since the foolish rebuttals have failed to derail Trump’s campaign (e.g., running silly pictures of Trump, mocking his soundbites while ignoring his policies, and authoritarian condemnations), let’s try understanding what’s happening before our now-standard recourse to hysteria (so aptly mocked on South Park). Populism is crude, nativist, — and racist (our original sin that has tainted almost everything from the Founding to the New Deal). But it addresses ills in America that our leaders enjoy, so our political gurus work to keep you from learning about populism and its latest expression via Donald Trump.

The populist resurgence will not end with Trump in November. To better understand it I recommend starting with Walter Russell Mead’s seminal essay explaining the strengths and weakness of populism — as one of the four core Americn political traditions. It’s a must-read to understand the surprising rise of Trump.
Excerpt from “The Jacksonian Tradition“

continue reading about The School of Andrew Jackson....

http://fabiusmaximus.com/2016/03/02/what-the-press-wont-tell-you-about-trump-and-populism/