ttbn,

So often populism does not represent what the public is saying or asking for at all, but is narrow opinion of vested interests, elites, who are able to influence the media.

Taking the NZ lag for instance, one could have been excused for believing a new flag was the will of all Kiwis and a lay-down misere. Or at least that is what the talking heads and commentariat in NZ and Oz would have had had us believe. Then it is revealed that isn't the case at all.

Similarly one can watch The Box and read newspapers in Australia and come away wondering whose opinions are being touted as those of the public. Surveys? Easily rigged to deliver the wanted result and the public is starting to wake to that.

You are right that Trump would be infinitely better than Hillary Clinton, who is lost without her script.

otb,

"You are right that Trump would be infinitely better than Hillary Clinton, who is lost without her script."

Yep, Clinton does nothing for me....however, anyone seriously touting the dangerous buffoon narcissist, Trump, as preferred President...well....

Mr. Opinion,

Yes. Socialism has had its day, and the world is begining to see the through the long list of failures at long last. Muslim immigration and sucking up to China are just two failed policies, never mind the fact that the socialists have pretty much run out of other people's money to spend. As for China's push for territory, Trump is the only one who will stand up to them for America and, therefore, the rest of the world, including Australia, which, unfortunately has to make do with Turnbull who just doesn' get it, and never will.

Dear Poirot,

We all know about the mechanics of free trade and globalisation. But don't you think there has been a retraction of the idea that these are good? From memory, it was Clinton and the Democrats who were the stalwarts of free trade and an expansion of the global political-economy. Not the Republicans. And in fact hasn't it always been the Republicans who have run on platforms of protectionism, isolationism, etc. So in this context the idea of Trump constructing a Fortress America does not seem so unlikely to me.

Dear ttbn,

Re your last post I think you've made a mistake in thinking that Turnbull is going to back the US wrt South China Sea fracas. All the indicators suggest to me that he will be throwing support behind China.

OTB,

If it doesn't always represent the will of the public, then surely it is not populism? I understand that 57% of Kiwis voted to retain their current flag, which makes the instigator of the move to change, their PM, is not a populist, who was put in his place by popular, majority vote.