"That's not populism, it's rank hucksterism — disguising plutocrats as champions of the people."

We need a word for that, to distinguish those plutocrats from real populists. "Hucksterism" is too generic, not specific enough to this one group of corporate-funded faux-populists. The word "plutocrat" brings to mind Tony Hayward, not Rush Limbaugh or Sarah Palin. I thought of combining it with "populist" to give "plutopulist", but that's awkward and I can't see it catching on. Any suggestions?

"banksterism"

Ya gotta love Hightower, a true populist voice. Shame Molly Ivins isn't still around.

Hightower's is a beautiful effort to clear the muddy waters of "populism" that the rise of the Tea Party have served to create, maybe deliberately so if you credit his idea that behind the Teas are plutocratic sponsors. I recommend as companion reading to this article another called "Tea, Coffee or We the People?" which expands the defintion of "real" populism to exclude as well the veneer of "civility" that marks the Coffee Party's emphasis on non-confrontational politics, arguing that in many ways "coffee" is a more dangerous subtance for real populists than is "tea." http://sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/?p=510 This view of progressive populism is the motivating ideology beyond an action-oriented project called Campaign Corner, designed as a clearing house and point of mutual support and encouragement for those real populists willing to stand for election to public offices in these United States. http://sunstateactivist.org/campaigncorner/

When bullets find homes in bankers' brains and nooses around the necks of corporatist executives and corporate-bought politicians, their kin will pay attention. Until then, Hightower bleats into the wind.

"The distain that the power elites have for the rest of us is glaringly and gallingly apparent."

He means disdain, not "distain," which is an archaic term meaning to stain or taint. And the power elites have little but disdain for the rest of us, as illustrated by BP's callous remark about the "small people" living near the Gulf affected horrifically by their recklessness. That same disdain is shared by Obama and all his minions, as part of their job description.

I concur with Jill at 1:07 pm.

Right on, Jim!

You state the case simply and completely.

The good ole USA, where the desires of the few outweigh the needs of the many.

True populist values start with true activism and political engagement!

More on what it means to successfully advocate for the people's interests:

http://www.livestream.com/freespeechtv/video?clipId=flv_523cfa67-ef1b-4207-81d7-d033e071c148

Bravo Jim Hightower, and all in one page. This is what I try constantly to explain to people all around me who are stuck in the left/right paradigm. After a million tries, I never said it as well as you have.

One of the leading bond traders in the U.S. said about 20 minutes ago that 7 countries in the E.U. will be in default on their loans soon. Supposedly it is Spain, Greece, Portugal and other smaller countries. Has to happen to clear the books, evidently, before we can move the rich forward with the purchase of paper in " junk bond " status. Golman-Sachs has 24% of the worthless paper. Imagine that? Now we citizens can come together, plot and organize around a blazing campfire in an abandoned development somewhere and burn the houses for warmth and survival. All the while the wolves will be making sure their bad investments in the Eurozone are paid for with " the full faith and credit " of our stolen taxes and 401K's. Come on, Jim, say the word we long to hear: Revolt!!!

One of the problems with changing the direction of the US is that the majority of people now living in America are un-educated and ignorant. Those of us who sincerely want "change" are a minority with no power. Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are much more known and respected than Jim Hightower and Ted Rall.

"Now is the time for progressives to . . ."
Jim, Jim: it's that whole credibility thing --
During the campaign from the daily Cheeto:
The Nation is reporting that former Agriculture Commissioner for the state of Texas and populist hero Jim Hightower will endorse and campaign for Barack Obama. I have to keep this quick because I've got other things going on but this is very meaningful to me because Jim Hightower was the first political columnist I read. The first bits of political knowledge I learned were from
Jim Hightower. . .
One of the great moments in American politics came when Hightower, wearing his cowboy hat and spouting the old-school economic populist gospel, joined the Rev. Jesse Jackson's "Rainbow Coalition" campaign of 1988. Their campaign events in Texas were epic celebrations of what a politics that saw beyond lines of race and ethnicity to the fundamental issue of class might look like.

For a time in March of 1988, that politics seemed possible. Jackson ran a strong second to Al Gore in the Texas primary and then won the Texas local conventions that selected delegates. Hightower was in the thick of that historic moment.

In March of 2008, Hightower will be in the thick of it again.

The Austin-based populist will be campaigning in Texas for Barack Obama. And it will mean something, since Hightower has not forgotten what he learned about the political landscape by winning two statewide elections in the 1980s and serving as an essential player on more than a few campaigns since then.
Hightower also spoke to the responsibility that WE have.

Ultimately, says Hightower, part of the responsibility for making Obama stronger on specific issues lies with progressives who back the Illinois senator.

"The thing that really matters about the Obama campaign is the 'change' message," says the Texan. "This has more staying power."

"That makes it incumbent upon progressives – and this new force that is emerging is a progressive force – to make demands," adds Hightower. "Franklin Roosevelt did not campaign on the New Deal. The people that elected him made Roosevelt give them a New Deal."

The people who elect Obama, says Hightower, can assure that Obama's 'change' message translates as "progressive change."

And one of the people electing Obama -- or, at the very least, doing his damnedest to carry Texas for senator -- will be Jim Hightower.
http://webkit.dailykos.com/stories/2008/2/14/18576/4278/642/457002.html
I'm sure you were a GREAT agriculture commissioner. 

Sent from my iPhone

"In fact, weak government is the political wet dream of corporate chieftains, which is why they're so ecstatic to have the tea party out front for them."

Corporations do not want a "weak government."

Do we really think that when Hank Paulson held up the US treasury on the part of former employer Goldman Sachs, he was looking for a "weak government" that couldn't manage to foot teh bill? Immediately?

Do we really think that the health insurance companies that lobbied for the universal mandate to purchase their faulty and widely unpopular products are looking for a "weak government" that can't enforce that mandate?

When Blackwater needs a new contract, do we really think they want to appeal to a "weak government" that won't declare war on their behalf?

Fedgov is a lot things, but weak it is not. And the fascists have no interest in any kind of change in the order of things ever, at all.

If things keep going in this direction, then the mere ability to escape the coercive power of the state is going to start looking pretty good.

Just ask any of the people being targeted by the, well, not "weak" NYPD just for walking down the street in the wrong neighborhood. I bet if you ax-ed that thing in half, they'd do a lot less harassing.

"But the real issue isn't small government, it's good government."

Yeah, right. Bloomberg and his co-hort will pay them to do community service. They start tomorrow.

How nice! Sweet dreams comes to Common Dreams.

But the USA is out of control, just as the oil gusher at the bottom of the gulf is out of control.

Neither will be fixed. Patched perhaps but not fixed. But just as these sweet dreams go on, drilling goes on. In both cases the big question does not go away: What for?

To change the climate and destroy the world? Is that what for?

She is broken, ladies and gentlemen. Even Liberty is now a dirty word. Patching her only makes it worse.

can "mobbing" be incorporated in the: "people v.s. the forces of death?"

"have come together to find their way around, over or through the blockages that big money has put in the way of their democratic aspirations. In the process of organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing, these groups are building relationships and community, creating something positive from a negative."

Have any of these groups brought back even one job? Pathetic.

In July of 1961 - when I was 18 years of age - I read a new book from my public library. The title was: "A Nation of Sheep", written by Wm. J. Lederer. [In August 1961 Barack Obama was born.] Amazon has used copies available starting at 87 cents. Lederer was blowing the alarm whistle upon the complacency and gullibility of the average American. For me, this book was a good heads-up before diving into the absorption of Humanities and social sciences in academe. And I have continued learning each day.

A good quality review was published on Amazon in May 2007 by one Charles Ashbacher. See what you think of it today.

Begin quote:
Given the current situation of the United States in Iraq and the circumstances as to how the U. S. got involved, one would think that it was a historical abnormality. However, in reading accurate histories and this book it is all too clear that it is not. For many different reasons, some noble and honest, but others simply due to greed and stupidity, the U. S. government has consistently lied to the American people about foreign entanglements. In this book Lederer describes some of the most absurd deceits perpetrated by American presidents.

They are:
*) "The Laos Fraud", the supposed invasion of Laos by the North Vietnamese, a scam perpetrated by some members of the Laotian government in collusion with members of the U. S. military and government. To react to the "great threat" billions of dollars of American aid was sent into the country.
*) "The Editor from Thailand", a description of how the ruling elite of Thailand solicits American aid by claiming fear of the communist bogeyman and how most is pocketed by corrupt Thais.
*) "What We Aren't Told About Formosa", an accurate description of Chiang Kai-shek and how his government in China was so corrupt and inefficient that it was bound to fail. Lederer also describes how ruthless his government was in destroying the native Formosan culture and in attaining and maintaining his power.
*) "What We Aren't Told About Korea", a description of the brutality and corruption of the Syngman Rhee government of South Korea. In many ways, Rhee was just as repressive as many of the communist governments that the U. S. so strongly opposed.

Lederer then goes on to describe how other programs, supposedly designed to further American goodwill around the world have had the opposite effect. Aid moneys are regularly skimmed into the pockets of local government and military officials so that only a small portion actually reaches the hands of those who need it.

Lederer also is harsh with the members of the press, who accept subtle bribes to write positive stories and who sometimes are a party to outright fraudulent stories. At the end, the advice he gives is sound, even though as recent events indicate, it is not being followed any more now as in 1961. That advice is that citizens must be soundly informed and willing to make their opinions heard. As scandal after scandal over the current Iraq war continues to surface and we learn more and more about how the American invasion was launched, it is clear that Lederer's position is just as true now as it was in 1961.
End quote:

What is horribly sad is that, if Mr. Lederer would have been told about the future of something called The World Wide Web and the Internet, he would have presumed that access to timely information would arm the average citizen against propaganda, bullshit, and crass manipulation -a la Vance Packard's =Hidden Persuaders=. But this weekend my high school graduating class is having its 50th reunion and I can only say: "Vanity vanity, all is vanity and there is nothing new under the sun, so, um, did you ever get into Hildegard's pants?
Trylon