It feels like there should be, but that's probably just looking for images in the clouds. — Echarmion
A demagogue (/ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/; from Greek δημαγωγός, a popular leader, a leader of a mob, from δῆμος, people, populace, the commons + ἀγωγός leading, leader),[1] or rabble-rouser,[2][3] is a political leader in a democracy who gains popularity by arousing the common people against elites, especially through oratory that whips up the passions of crowds, appealing to emotion by scapegoating out-groups, exaggerating dangers to stoke fears, lying for emotional effect, or other rhetoric that tends to drown out reasoned deliberation and encourage fanatical popularity.[4] Demagogues overturn established norms of political conduct, or promise or threaten to do so.[5]: 32–38
Historian Reinhard Luthin defined demagogue as "a politician skilled in oratory, flattery and invective; evasive in discussing vital issues; promising everything to everybody; appealing to the passions rather than the reason of the public; and arousing racial, religious, and class prejudices—a man whose lust for power without recourse to principle leads him to seek to become a master of the masses. He has for centuries practiced his profession of 'man of the people'.
Be afraid. — Wayfarer
Trump is a demagogue — Wayfarer
Be afraid? This was a photoshopped joke post on Twitter/X captioned, "Let that sink in." Musk was a Democrat just three years ago. Now he has been demonized for political reasons, and many have been taken in by the propaganda. — Leontiskos
generally sounding off on everything and nothing. — Echarmion
Trump is a demagogue
— Wayfarer
Sure. He just doesn't seem like a particularly good one. — Echarmion
Musk himself posted it. — Wayfarer
Have you ever listened to Musk himself? — Leontiskos
In the US it's difficult to say as it's been a very long time since the US has seen genuinely leftist parties being popular.If so, how susceptible do you think they would be to more leftist populist rhetoric? — bert1
"Weird times" is an indicator that there is a genuine possibility of things getting really worse. I remember a letter written by my great grandfather to his brother in 1916. He had been walking with the local priest and discussed the political situation. The priest couldn't simply understand what collective insanity had taken over people in 1905 where my great grandfather had responded that those times could indeed come back. In two years Finland was in bloody a civil war.Yes. We're in weird times. I haven't quite put the puzzle pieces together to understand what it means. I've considered the possibility that there's been a lot more lead in the drinking water than anyone realized. — frank
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