• SCB@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Populism is the mass appeal of demagogues involving simplistic, faceless enemies and equally simplistic solutions to problems. It is not evidence-based and it’s policies are often counter productive.

    Populism is a cancer and politicians that use populist rhetoric should be considered inherently untrustworthy.

    Problems do exist and the solutions to those problems should be found in sound, evidence-based policies, not conspiracy theories about global elites.

    Everyone one of your complaints, for instance, is reflective of a real concept but is inherently misleading to more effectively appeal to people like you, who are self-identifying as not very knowledgeable about policy. I am not being mean here - this is an intentional tactic, and it is a very real concept.

    Let’s take an example: “the minimum wage has not gone up.”

    This is misleading for several reasons

    1: state minimum wage has absolutely gone up in very many states, and exceeds the federal.minimum

    https://www.epi.org/minimum-wage-tracker/

    As you check that (progressive, pro-$15 minimum wage) site, you’ll also note that 28 states have raised their minimum wage recently, 30 states + DC have a min wage higher than federal minimum, and 8 states effectively have no minimum wage.

    2: 98.5% of working adults do not make minimum wage.

    https://www.zippia.com/advice/minimum-wage-statistics/#:~:text=What percentage of Americans make,make the federal minimum wage.

    So what’s the real reason here? It’s obviously not a minimum wage concern. The real reason is simple: most Americans feel economically left behind.

    Only by addressing this actual fact, and debating and discussing policies about this thing both parties and most Americans can agree on, can we move away from dangerous, divisive rhetoric and back toward actual policy discussion.