Enduring debate: elitism versus populism
Political parties rise and fall, legislative theories emerge, evolve, expire. But certain debates enjoy immortality in America, persisting in the Facebook era in a form that would be familiar to the founding fathers.
One of those evergreens is the battle over who holds the reins of power in these United States - the wealthy and the educated, or the common working citizen. On one side are the elitists; on the other, populists.
Both words have been used in caustic ways in politics - elitism smacking of arrogance and autocracy; populism of mob rule and pandering - though their primary dictionary definitions carry no such taint.
The competing philosophies have divided Americans since the earliest years of the nation, sparking battles over matters as simple as whether George Washington should be addressed as "Mr. President" or "Your Majesty," and as complicated as the composition of the new nation's government.
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One of those evergreens is the battle over who holds the reins of power in these United States - the wealthy and the educated, or the common working citizen. On one side are the elitists; on the other, populists.
Both words have been used in caustic ways in politics - elitism smacking of arrogance and autocracy; populism of mob rule and pandering - though their primary dictionary definitions carry no such taint.
The competing philosophies have divided Americans since the earliest years of the nation, sparking battles over matters as simple as whether George Washington should be addressed as "Mr. President" or "Your Majesty," and as complicated as the composition of the new nation's government.