We still believed, like good children, that concepts like abortion and democracy would be enough to mobilize crowds. After all, who would refuse to stand up for such fundamental rights?
This week, American voters brutally reminded us that these great ideals are all well and good, but they remain the concerns of disconnected elites.
Because in reality, there are much more “hot” topics for the daily lives of ordinary people. And democracy? Abortion? Ah, it’s beautiful on paper, but the fridge doesn’t fill with principles.
Reality
The message is clear and it has the lightness of a slap: before getting excited about noble causes, the voter of 2024 first thinks about the end of their month.
Forget big principles, inspiring speeches and visions of the future. What really matters is what touches on immediate concerns, down to earth realities.
The moral, the just, the ideal? We’ll see that later. Maybe.
We could say that it is the return of a pendulum, an elastic band stretched to the extreme which bursts in our faces.
In the past, a politician had to be brilliant, charismatic, capable of big speeches and ideals. We had to embody a vision, a social project.
Today, the winning politician must embody middle-class rage, willing to speak the same harsh language, even if it means sacrificing dignity and class along the way.
Anyway, since when does dignity help pay the rent?
Populism
Welcome to the era of populism.
Tell the people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. Howling anger, pouring out insults, that’s what pleases a population in turmoil.
This soothes the souls of those who are brooding over their rage in their corner. This gives them a voice, a presence, an illusion of liberation.
If we transpose this model to Canada, our politicians, whether Trudeau or Poilievre, would be wise to take note.
Mr. Trudeau will have to adjust his speech, understand the frustration that is brewing, instead of getting lost in the demonization of his opponent, a strategy which risks further mobilizing those who are opposed to him.
As for Mr. Poilievre, he can capitalize on this anger, but on condition of proposing concrete solutions and restraining the insults.
Ultimately, Canada is not immune to this wave. And it would be wise to prepare for it, without cynicism or optimism.
