JOHN FELDSTED: How Can Populism be Extreme? Unless you consider the people, who vote, and those you represent, to be an unnecessary nuisance once you acquire power

The news media in Canada has reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, “… called hate speech and the politics of division a “dangerous path” for Canada. Trudeau said he fears a rise in extreme populism and polarization around the issue of immigration and he accused some of feeding intolerance with partial truths and outright lies.” – this is just one example from the CBC.

Let’s start with a definition of populism. According to the Oxford English dictionary it means:

A political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who

feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups.

Appealing to ordinary people is the basis, and root, of a democracy. Our governments do not exist to represent or serve anyone else. Despite this, we do not need to be told that we are ignored by the political establishment – we can see clear evidence of that every day.

The Kinder Morgan debacle is the result of governments bucking to the whining of environmental groups, who do not represent anyone but themselves.

We are thoroughly fed up with our governments giving attention, support and funding to a plethora of rights and special interest groups, while ignoring the rights of the citizens they represent.

How can populism be ‘extreme’?

It may scare the pants off the establishment elite that Trudeau represents, and threaten the status quo, but listening to, and representing, the people who vote for you can never be extreme.  It cannot be considered extreme unless you consider the people who vote, and those you represent, to be an unnecessary nuisance once you acquire power.

That is the road to dictatorship. 

We should also be disturbed by Trudeau’s vow to continue calling out those who rely on "extremist" methods to make their voices heard. The Prime Minister cannot override another person’s right to the freedom of expressions, and to make his or her views known as they see fit.

Trudeau is not the sole judge of what is, or is not, an extremist method of expression. He is entitled to his beliefs, opinion and thoughts, but not entitled to act on them by attacking others for their beliefs. If our Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has more detractors than supporters, that is his problem, not ours.

An editorial commentary by John Feldsted
"I am steadfastly conservative although various conservative parties are not. The lust for power tends to overcome adherence to principles, so I am at times critical of conservative party actions."