During a recent debate at Oxford University, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was given a lesson on why populism is not a “threat to Democracy” as many of the left view it as. On the contrary, one talented orator argued that populism is the very essence of Democracy.
The argument began when Rachel Haddad, Secretary of the Oxford Union, argued that right-wing populist figures such as former U.S. President Donald Trump and British politician Nigel Farage destabilize democratic processes. Nancy Pelosi also opined that “ethno-nationalist populism” was a negative force fueled by resentment toward immigrants.
However, this leftist argument was countered with conservative opinions toward populism, featuring arguments from former Mumford & Sons lead guitarist and podcast host for the Spectator Winston Marshall. “Words have a tendency to change meaning when I was a boy, ‘woman’ meant ‘someone who didn’t have a cock,’ he said. “Populism has become a word used synonymously with ‘racists.’ We’ve heard ‘ethno-nationalist,’ with ‘bigot,’ with ‘hillbilly,’ ‘redneck,’ with ‘deplorables.'”
He further explained that mainstream Democrats, such as former President Barrack Obama, have tried to paint Bernie Sanders as a true example of a populist while claiming Donald Trump has no interest in advocating for “working people.”
Marshall stated, “If you watch Obama’s speeches after that point, more and more recently, he uses the word “populist” interchangeably with “strong man,” with “authoritarian.” The word changes meaning, it becomes a negative, a pejorative, a slur.”
The podcaster disagreed with the negative connotation assigned to populism from the establishment, claiming it is instead a positive force given the failure of the elites in recent decades. “To me, populism is not a dirty word. Since the 2008 crash and specifically the trillion-dollar Wall Street bailout, we are in the populist age, and for good reason. The elites have failed,” he continued. “Elites use it to show their contempt for ordinary people.”
Marshall then engaged in a back-and-forth with Pelosi when he compared the January 6 protests with other left-wing riots that occurred around the nation in the summer of 2020. However, Pelosi rebuked his assertion, claiming there can be no equivocation to January 6.
“I’m sure Congresswoman Pelosi will agree that the entire month of June 2020, when the federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon was under siege and under insurrection by radical progressives, those too were dark days for America,” Marshall said. Pelosi fired back, “You are not, there is no equivalence there, so, but it is not like what happened on January 6th which was an insurrection incited by the President of the United States.”
Marshall clarified his argument, stating, “My point, though, is that all political movements are susceptible to violence, and indeed insurrection. And if we were arguing that fascism was a threat to democracy, I’d be on that side of the House.”
“Populism as you know, is the politics of the ordinary people against an elite, populism is not a threat to democracy. Populism is democracy, and why else have universal suffrage, if not to keep elites in check?” he asked.
Marshall then took a jab at Pelosi, arguing that Democrats were typically thought of as ‘anti-elite’ or ‘anti-establishment’ when they have seemingly become both of those. He suggested that Pelosi would argue against her job if she were pro-populist.
“I’m actually rather surprised that our esteemed opposition, Congressman Pelosi, is on that side of the motion. I thought the left was supposed to be anti-elite. I thought the left was supposed to be anti-establishment today, particularly in America, the globalist left have become the establishment. I suppose for Miss Pelosi to have taken this side of the motion, she’d be arguing herself out of a job.”
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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