Comments 5

如何窃得民粹主义者的衣钵

Apr 11, 2018 Ngaire Woods

牛津——“不要生气，找他们算账”。这条格言必须成为欧洲、拉美、亚洲和非洲民主政治的新规则。既有政党不应抱怨民粹主义的成功，而是应当学习他们的长处。这其中尤其有三大教训需要关注。

第一课是通过了解代表对象并赢得他们的信任来成功地联系民众。政客可以依赖党派机器、焦点小组和传统民调的时代已经结束。民众永远会依据党派或阶级界限投票的洋洋自得的假设已经过时。去年在法国总统和议会选举中，对中左翼社会党和中右翼共和党的支持同时陷于崩溃。同样，在上个月举行的意大利选举中，成熟政党经历了失败的屈辱。

在经历了长达十年的经济不景气后，选民们对给出经济增长和生活水平提高等生硬承诺的主流政治家持怀疑态度。在希望破灭的劳动者眼中，那些当权者仅仅是在装满自己的腰包。即使在世界许多增长最强劲的经济体，劳动者的实际收入也比十年前有所降低。用经合组织负责人的话说，他们“有工作但没钱花”。美国有56%的家庭报称收入下降。与此同时，自动化和外包的双重威胁导致就业更岌岌可危，并削弱了工人的议价能力。

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John McVitty Apr 16, 2018

On the basis of this penetrating article, we can see why for two thousand years Cicero has been influential: himself idealistic and interested in promoting ethics and philosophy, he nevertheless set an example of great effectiveness in influencing the state, especially in articulating the public issues to be decided, as well as in cultural policy.

Mistakenly regarded as a "stylist", Cicero actually sought to use a variety of styles - not a single "style" - that were effective with his various audiences, while maintaining underlying consistency and high implicit intellectual standards. He also self-consciously sought to set an example for later generations.

Today, along with the goals Woods suggests, we need to renew study of the art of oratory, benefitting from Cicero's example, so that those who wish to reverse populist follies can reach their adherents, and win them over. This does not imply dishonesty, but rather carefully framed honesty, as Woods herself suggests, to win popular trust, and a willingness to engage in reflection. (In Cameron and Johnson we find a caricature of Ciceronian humanist education, not its realization.)
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Barry Rosenfeld Apr 15, 2018

If the "left" cannot formulate a new social contract then the "right" will. People will try to feel good about themselves and if that is not possible on an economic basis, then it will be attempted of the basis of "national identity." The establishment left, the beneficiaries of the welfare state, have convinced themselves they are the meritorious due solely to their abilities and diligence. They have forgotten, if not holding in contempt, people who, for various reasons, had not taken advantage of the new routes to success that were opening based on enhanced opportunities and access. Ignore them at your own risk.
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Peter Schaeffer Apr 12, 2018

Perhaps the neoliberals should teach the people of the UK (and Europe) the joys of Open Borders... Like in Cologne, Rotherham, and Telford...

"'Girls must be saved from going through this hell': Call for public inquiry into Telford sex scandal as it emerges up to 1,000 children as young as 11 were drugged, beaten and raped over 40 years"

I am sure that this "education" will put the populists in their place.
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Peter Schaeffer Apr 11, 2018

Ngaire Woods should try a bit more honesty. The anti-Brexit propaganda was called "Campaign Fear" for a reason. The Remainers could have told the truth "Europe has been great for the 1% and hell for everyone else". However, that might have been worse than the dishonest tactics the remainers actually used.

Famouly, Cameron claimed that Brexit would lead to WWIII and Depression. One wag asked him if it would be WWIII and then a Depression or a Depression followed by WWIII.

Andy Burnham wrote (of the Brexit campaign) ‘Too much Hampstead, not enough Hull’

The Hampstead class (Ngaire Woods included) has taken over the Labor party and turned its back on the people of the UK. The people of the UK have noticed.
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如何窃得民粹主义者的衣钵

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