In today's political landscape, populism has emerged as a blue-collar revolution representing the interests and aspirations of the working family. Many have difficulty defining Populism, but if you look at the movements in the USA over the last 200 years, we can see the guiding principles of populist leaders.

This contemporary wave of populism is rooted in the belief that individuals who are gainfully contributing to society deserve comprehensive membership benefits from both their employers and the government.

It champions the notion that work should be rewarded while ensuring that every worker has access to affordable housing, healthcare, food, education, energy, pensions, transportation, and related services. Additionally, populism holds that those who work harder and contribute more should benefit more, irrespective of their ethnicity, religion, or creed. In sum, the people who are born in this sovereign nation must be the main responsibility of its leaders.

Populism in America has undergone significant evolution, beginning with Andrew Jackson over 200 years ago, who championed the cause of the "common man" against what he perceived as a corrupt and elitist political establishment. Jackson's brand of populism focused on expanding democratic participation and promoting the interests of heartland settlers and working-class citizens.

Fast forward to the late 20th century, Ross Perot brought a new flavor of populism with his 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns, emphasizing fiscal responsibility, economic nationalism, and reforming government inefficiency.

Perot's appeal to middle-class voters frustrated with traditional party politics laid the groundwork for the populist resurgence seen in the era of Donald Trump. Trump's populism, which gained momentum in the 2016 presidential election, has been characterized by its staunch anti-elitist rhetoric, advocacy for Peace and Prosperity, fighting for American workers, fighting for working families, boosting jobs and manufacturing, immigration control, creating energy independence, expanding exports, increasing wealth, lowering debt, and reducing government oppression.

This modern iteration has further polarized the political landscape, drawing both fervent support and fierce debate, and highlighting the enduring influence of populist ideals in shaping American politics.

Fair Reward for Hard Work

At its core, modern populism emphasizes the principle that greater effort and contribution should result in greater benefits. This philosophy resonates deeply with the working class, advocating for a fair and merit-based system where hard work and dedication are justly rewarded. Populism rejects the idea of inequality based on heritage or background, promoting an inclusive society where every member of the citizen body has equal opportunities to succeed and prosper.

Affordable Housing

One of the primary tenets of modern populism is the advocacy for affordable housing. The movement emphasizes that every worker should have the opportunity to live in safe, decent, and affordable homes. This stance is a response to the growing housing crisis in many parts of the world due to undue immigration, where skyrocketing rents and home prices have made it increasingly difficult for working families to secure stable housing. Populist policies often include calls for construction, rent control, increased funding for housing, and initiatives to promote home ownership among the working class.

Healthcare

Healthcare is another cornerstone of the populist agenda. No worker should have less access to health care than those who refuse to work. All US workers should have cheap affordable catastrophic insurance available. The goal is to ensure that no worker has to choose between their health and their financial stability.

Populists argue that access to quality healthcare should not be a privilege of those who do not work, but a right for all workers. This belief drives support for free-market healthcare systems, increased deregulation of health services, and policies aimed at reducing the cost of medical care and prescription drugs.

Food Security

Ensuring that working families have access to affordable and nutritious food is a critical aspect of the populist platform. No worker should stuggle to eat while others have free food and tax free meals. Populism advocates for policies that support agriculture, subsidize healthy food for working folks, and lower taxes and energy costs on food that is provided to workers.

The movement also pushes for fair wages for agricultural workers, recognizing their vital role in the food supply chain. At this time, taxes and energy taxes on food hurts working folks ability to prosper while millions who do not work pay nothing for their food.

Education

Education is seen as a pathway to opportunity and social mobility. Modern populism supports accessible and affordable education for all, from early childhood through higher education.

This includes advocating for reduced tuition fees, increased funding to families, and policies that address student loan debt. In the last 3 years, the government doubled interest rates on the poor who have student debt and charged them an extra $300 billion in interest and taxes.

Populists believe that every worker should have the opportunity to improve their skills and knowledge without being burdened by insurmountable interest rates and debt. Going forward, those who work, should have access to funds at lower rates and have the ability to deduct or expense any interest payments.

Energy

Affordable and sustainable energy is another priority for populists. Government interference from 2021-2024 doubled the cost of energy which hurt workers, women and minorities the most. The populist movement supports policies that make energy more affordable for working families, such as subsidies for drilling and energy sources, improvements to energy efficiency, and measures to reduce utility costs.

Populists also advocate for the creation of “energy dominance” jobs that provide great wages to keep America independent of Russia, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia’s or any communist or fascist influences abroad.

Pensions and Retirement

Populism places a strong emphasis on securing the financial future of working families through robust pension systems. Workers should have a retirement and COLA Cost of Living Adjustments as good or better than anyone who has not worked. The movement calls for the protection and expansion of social security benefits for workers, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and other forms of retirement savings.

Populists argue that workers should be able to retire with dignity and financial security after a lifetime of contributing to the economy and not have their retirement destroyed by green energy inflation and tax policies.

Transportation

Accessible and affordable transportation is crucial for working families. Without cheap gas and diesel, workers are burdened with excess costs on food, commuting, and utilities. Populists support investments in public transportation infrastructure, policies that reduce transportation costs, and initiatives that improve the accessibility of transportation services. This ensures that workers can commute to their jobs and access essential services without undue financial strain.

Ethnic Inclusivity and Equality

With over 5000 ethnicities in the world, a defining characteristic of modern populism is its commitment to excellence regardless of a citizen’s family origins. Populism advocates for a society where individuals are judged by their contributions and efforts rather than their ethnicity, religion, or creed. This inclusive approach aims to eliminate discrimination and create a level playing field for all workers, ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Conclusion

From 2015 to 2024, populism in America has transformed into a full-blown workers' movement, fundamentally altering the political landscape. During this period, many workers and unions began to shift towards the center-right as they sought a political platform that more closely aligned with their economic and social concerns.

This realignment was driven by a growing dissatisfaction with the many politicians shifting towards leftist socialism, which emphasized oppressive policies and extensive government intervention that hurt workers.

In contrast, the center-right populist movement has championed the rights of the citizen working class, focusing on job security, fair wages, and opposition to globalization and immigration policies perceived to undermine American workers. Everyone realizes that it is unfair to all minorities including Black, Hispanic, and Asians to illegally import cheap labor from abroad to take citizen’s jobs.

This movement, embodied by the rise of figures like Donald Trump, emphasized nationalism, economic sustainability for US citizens, and a return to traditional values, appealing to a broad base of blue-collar workers and union members. As a result, populism has redefined itself as a powerful workers' movement, advocating for the interests of those who feel left behind by the rapid changes in the global economy and the oppressive agenda of the left.

Sadly, populism lives or dies in the election of 2024. If Trump wins, he will need to surround himself with the most loyal appointees who are determined to improve the present problems of: Worker Benefits, Worker Health Care, Crime, The Border, Poor Schools, Immigration and Wages, Inflation, Debt, Impartial Hiring, Civil Rights, and more.

Trump cannot afford to appoint Democrats or former Bush, Romney or Ryan allies who have supported fake Russian Dossiers and other failed attempts to overthrow the government. We can’t afford to waste another $5 trillion dollars in economic advancement on fake Russian dossiers or man-made pandemics. Anyone who tries to overthrow the government again with fake evidence should be investigated first before taking any fake whistleblowers seriously.

In essence, modern populism is a movement that seeks to elevate the working family by advocating for comprehensive benefits and support systems. It challenges the disparity between those who work and those who receive tax-free benefits, arguing for a more equitable distribution of rewards for those who are energizing the economy with productivity.

By focusing on worker access to: affordable housing, healthcare, food security, education, energy, pensions, transportation, and equitable treatment, populism aims to create a society where the contributions of every worker are recognized and rewarded, and where hard work leads to tangible benefits and opportunities for all.

While the definition of Populism is still evolving, this is the best explanation of where the movement is going and how it has become a Blue Collar Revolution in just a few short years. In essence, the populist today is a fusion of the Conservatives , Labor , Blue Dogs, Anti-Slavery Republicans , Libertarians , and Reform Party members.

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Commissioner George Mentz JD MBA CILS CWM® is the first in the USA to rank as a Top 50 Influencer & Thought Leader in: Management, PM, HR, FinTech, Wealth Management, and B2B according to Onalytica.com and Thinkers360.com. George Mentz JD MBA CILS is a CWM Chartered Wealth Manager ®, global speaker - educator, tax-economist, international lawyer and CEO of the GAFM Global Academy of Finance & Management ®. The GAFM is a EU accredited graduate body that trains and certifies professionals in 150+ nations under standards of the: US Dept of Education, ACBSP, ISO 21001, ISO 991, ISO 29993, QAHE, ECLBS, and ISO 29990 standards. Mentz is also an award winning author and award winning graduate law professor of wealth management of one of the top 30 ranked law schools in the USA