Been ruminating lately on left v. right populism. So much attention has been paid to their similarities, points of agreement, possible alliances. But to me the differences are far more telling, and irreconcilable in the long term. I think one of the biggest differences is that, while both left and right populists are distrusting of the rich, right populists *don't want to be*.
Right populism's grievances with the wealthy are more based on the specific character they perceive of many of the wealthy in modern society, but not per se with wealth and inequality itself. It's almost like the way they think about guns, the only way to fight a bad billionaire is with a good billionaire. It's why the guy who poops in a solid gold toilet can be considered a man of the people by some. They have no qualms being lorded over by someone who they think is at heart just like them. Left populism is much more skeptical of wealth and inequality in and of itself, regardless of who is wielding it.
Been ruminating lately on left v. right populism. So much attention has been paid to their similarities, points of agreement, possible alliances. But to me the differences are far more telling, and irreconcilable in the long term. I think one of the biggest differences is that, while both left and right populists are distrusting of the rich, right populists *don't want to be*.
Right populism's grievances with the wealthy are more based on the specific character they perceive of many of the wealthy in modern society, but not per se with wealth and inequality itself. It's almost like the way they think about guns, the only way to fight a bad billionaire is with a good billionaire. It's why the guy who poops in a solid gold toilet can be considered a man of the people by some. They have no qualms being lorded over by someone who they think is at heart just like them. Left populism is much more skeptical of wealth and inequality in and of itself, regardless of who is wielding it.
Laura Belin has a good piece on the difficulties Democrats face in trying to win statewide in Iowa this year. https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/03/15/the-biggest-problem-iowa-dems-face-in-2026-statewide-races/