Does this illustrate a dilemma of #popularism? #GayMarriage was successfully implemented (from NY as first major state in 2011 to Obergefell in 2015) once support reached 40-60%. But it took that implementation to ramp up further growth in support when it had stagnated in the decade before.

#Popularism rides on people's existing fanatical attitudes, beliefs, behaviours. It has no rational basis. Thus #Brexit.

Once acted upon, a gesture of faith is like a vow and hard to break without severe cognitive dissonance.

To bridge the gap between belief and reality, you must be able every day to believe a hundred impossible things before breakfast. But that will not solve real problems or run an effective government.

What happens when a political party morphs into a religious cult?

I disagree with #GabyHinsliff of #Guardian. I do not see #Labor victory in #Oz elections as a turning point away from #popularism to good government.

First, popularism is not the issue. It is just a tactic. The problem is the narcissistic system that uses popularism tactically.

Narcissistic systems end (1) through disaster or (2) a charismatic reformation which heals the system.

Oz has evaded disaster. Oz has elected #Labor - no charismatic reform.

Just more of the same, I fear.

#NewcastleuponTyne #UK #Popularism #Soccer #Sportswashing

Toon fans degraded themselves when they welcomed Saudi funding for Newcastle United. Sportswashing the murder of #Khashoggi has evoked little pushback from Tyneside politicians. They fear to criticise football & lose votes of fans. Thus sports popularism has silenced political criticism and subverted our democracy. Makes our defence of Ukraine sound hollow.

I can't see a Toon fan now without feeling contempt. You brought shame on us.

#InsulateBritain #Green #Environment #Climate #Activism

Good article in #Guardian - watch the video!

I put notes on the screenshot.

Protest is typically futile unless government is willing to engage. #Johnson serves only #popularism so he will not engage.

Meanwhile, #police & #courts prosecute minor crimes, use jail, (for obstructing highway) while ignoring more serious crimes (assault). Shows their bias.

IB need better lawyers!

Political movement not protest is the way forward, I think.

#Nigeria #Chibok #BokoHaram #Popularism #Democracy

When government policy is driven by popularism, in response to a media frenzy, a frenzy driven by the profit motive & cashing-in on 'hot' stories, injustice is inevitable.

#BBC asks why #Hassana_Adamu is treated like a 2nd-class citizen unlike other Nigerian victims of terrorism & banditry.

It is because her story no longer makes money for media nor advances political careers. She needs to learn this cost of popularism. And so do we.

#Centralist #Simon_Jenkins startles his #Guardian readers by calling for a #revolution. Oh, hang on, his 'revolution' is just a heartfelt wish for someone to sort out the global mess & keep out the horrors of #popularism. Too late, mate. Anyway, a bit rich from a #Brexit supporter.

We do need revolution but it can only happen if we identify the real threat - this is unregulated capital. Popularism is just the smokescreen capital is hiding behind. End capitalism, to save the world.

#suck_puppy #twitter_lemming
#slang #british

Since you asked: a #suck_puppy is a pathologically infantile adult (has no teeth, sucks all food through a straw, mindless, maggoty) - the raw material on which #popularism works.

A #twitter_lemming is a #suck_puppy herded into a feeding frenzy by trivial sensationism, faux outrage etc that fakes political impact but actually changes nothing in the status quo as it has no basis in reality and no traction on it e.g. #partygate or #culture_wars.

#Democracy #Popularism #Johnson #Tories #corruption

Good article from #Al_Jazeera on threat to #British democracy from Johnsonian #chumocracy. Read it!

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/2/4/british-democracy-is-on-the-edge