I was just reading Cusack's column over on Huffpo. In his thought provoking article, he quoted Naomi Klein and her mention of disaster populism.
That's the phrase I've been looking for to explain what I percieve as the next tidal wave to break on the American psyche. Leave it to Ms. Klein to coin the perfect term, or at least bring it to my mind. More below.
For a man with polio, FDR had to run hard to stay abreast of public opinion in 1933. As we know, financially the country was a smoking ruins due in no small part to the results of the Gilded Age's last gasp. Panaceas that had been trotted out in the past were non starters amongst those in the soup lines and the idled assembly plants. Folks were ready for change and if capitalism wasn't working, perhaps socialism might. It was this fear shared by the remaining captains of industry and their minions in Congress that finally brought about progressive changes such as 40 hour work weeks and old age pensions, for examples. This was done not out of a true spirit of compassion by the majority so much as a ploy to bring outside agitation back inside the house, rather than risk insurrection.
Our Gilded Age came to a close just a few months ago. We're seeing the results. We're seeing the (non) reaction by those in charge of our banking and credit system. Christmas bonuses will still be paid to the wizards while Congress left not a dime on the table for the truly suffering before their hurried adjournment. History will repeat itself, thus Disaster Populism.
The electorate is seeing a lot more in the words of our soon to be minted President Obama than he might intend. (No, Grandpa's not going to win, forget it!) He talks like a populist sometimes, but has attracted more Wall Street donations than McCain. His record of legislation is unremarkable, going with the flow on war funding, FISA, etc. But he's run on the perception of change.
The current times are good compared to what's looming- if leadership doesn't respond swiftly and creatively. Like FDR, Obama's going to have to get ahead of the issues of the day very quickly and stay there, or else preside over our nation's rapid devolvement to Third World status.
Obama's all about change, so he says. I wonder if he's aware of the serious expectations he's raised across the country? Does he know how sick to death we are of status quo capitalism, deregulation that benefits the top tier, exportation of our jobs and factories, our reputation as the arrogant world bully with 700 some needless overseas military bases and outposts? How would he maintain this on borrowed yuans and bahts?
The house of cards is shaking, badly.
Disaster Populism, as I take it, is serious business. It means taking care of your brother- even though you've lost everything. It means sharing that last bit of bread, that last bowl of soup and making space to share around the fire stoked in a 55 gallon drum. Expanded, it means marching on Washington when there's nothing left to lose, (see Bonus Marchers) except those last shreds of dignity, those same shreds being insulted time after time by a Congress that places the "needs" of the "few" over the suffering masses huddled out in the streets.
Yes, it's time for a change. Get ready Mr. President. We'll try to get you a 60 seat Senate tomorrow, OK? Just back up the rhetoric and do right by us.