Political Populism

It should be – but isn’t – of general concern that much of what passes for conventional wisdom is based on false argument, contentious facts, unresolved science or plain nonsense. The ‘debates’, if they can be called that, on many high profile issues – e.g. global warming, third world aid/debt, the European Treaty, ‘Saving the Planet’, equality, tolerance – are conducted at the lowest level of intellect and in the shallowest of terms. Argument is confined to simple facts strung into a few highly plausible and readily digestible propositions. One is invited either to swallow them whole, without scrutiny, or else to disagree and be branded as ‘uncaring’ or ‘ignorant’. These ideas are easily worked into populist platforms which are then used to pressure goverments into action. (Wilfred Beckerman has long been an articulate advocate for reason and sound logic in these areas – see www.fathom.com/course/21701789/session1.html). This is no way to conduct national affairs and far from a sound route to good public policy.