i think these alternatives are mistaken. the alternative to (bad versions of) populism are mediating institutions in which people, regardless of their personal education, can recognize their own interests and values, which they can trust to act rationally and professionally in pursuit of those. 1/

it’s the lack of mediating institutions — of a menu of political parties that reflects the diversity of the electorate — that puts voters in a position of trying beyond their (really anyone’s) expertise to be strategic about and within amorphous coalitions… 2/

or else vote for charismatic heroes with simple, compelling, and false stories about why things are terrible and what should be done to fix it. /fin