FELDSTED: Political parties and their strategists fear independent thinkers. Such people are self-assured and not swayed by social divisions or by the mainstream and social media
Dare to be different ... part 3 We hear more and more about the dangers of populism. When our Prime Minister utters the word, he manages to spit it out as if he just took a bite of something exceedingly vile. Populism: noun; a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups . Politicians like to divide us – by age (seniors and youth) colour (any non-white group), economic strata (homeless, middle class, working poor) by ethnicity or religion (Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh – Christians need not apply) and then promise to be the protectors and saviours of each group. Political parties are established elite groups . They hold themselves up as separate tribes and seek to have electors and people of influence promise allegiance to their tribe. Unfortunately, that does not translate into representing electors, heeding their pleas or acting in their best inte...