Comment by thisisit
8 days ago
I honestly don't get this take. It treats US as special outlier. Right wing populists have won elections in many countries. While in other places RW populism is finding some foothold.
Truth is people all over the world are frustrated by how their lives are turning out.
On one hand they see politicians who want to keep the status quo and make promises which wouldn't change their lives. That is the Democrats in US. Too comfortable with their power.
On the other hand Right Wing populist promise simple answers to complex questions. Many of these populist leaders are seen as "outsider". Many places are seeing rise in anti-immigrant and anti-poor sentiments. Because that is the simplest answer - outsiders/freeloaders are to blame for all the issues.
By the time people realize that they have been fooled by the RW simplistic answer it is already too late. Either there is catastrophic damage (ex.. Brexit) or dictatorship (ex. Hungary).
Nearly every country thinks it is unique and can come out of this unscathed. But no one can escape the damage. Some people still think that Trump as a dictator is long shot. But that is what is happening. And people cheering him on have something to gain or they have fallen for the simple answer - "outsiders are to blame".
Why is the answer right wing populists though? Look at the policies of Zadani in NYC. I’d take a liberal populist over a xenophobic autocrat every day and twice on Sunday.
> Zadani in NYC Zadani? You mean Mamdani?
RW often promise one shot "obvious" fix - build the wall, deportation - which the unnamed "they" aren't doing because of vested interest. People don't want complex answers. Its the same as dieting - a magic pill is much better than a well laid out diet plan. Even if the magic pill is going to create long term damage.
The other side is branded as communism or socialism. Like Mamdani.
And many places have being pushing nationalistic pride and stories about the glorious past. This leads nicely into full on fascism. Its always ironic when American RWs like to call others fascist while being the picture perfect example of fascists themselves. Always harping on "MAGA" or "USA! USA!" slogans