For not understanding why "populism" is seen as such a bad thing

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Is the point of democracy not to have popular support?

Well you are naive if you believe politicians. They all do exactly what you said these days. It is only called populism when is the party you do not agree with.

Pretty much.

A good measure of whether populism brings about the best things is the UK single charts.

Mostly complete shite.

UK is very strange in its approach to politics. In the US, the GOP and the Dems are quite different to each other but at least you know what you are getting. Whereas in the UK, the winning party is almost always the one that holds the centre ground. We tend to get Centrist Tories (Cameron, May) and centrist Labour (Blair,Starmer). The only reason we got Boris is because Corbyn was too extreme, and we only got Thatcher in the 70's because the Labour government were in thrall to the tories.
Given that we essentially vote for the centre every time, it is perhaps not surprising that nothing changes. And given that it is what the silent majority wants, I guess that is democracy at work.

Well, surely you could congratulate yourselves a little on your centrism meaning you haven’t elected a cabinet of far-right loons? Other places are, after all.

I would strongly dispute that "nothing changes". 100 years ago the UK was a very different place - there have been some very radical changes!

“Oh, Prout he is a nobleman,
a nobleman, a nobleman!
Our Heffy is a nobleman—
He does an awful lot,
Because his popularity—
Oh, pop-u-pop-u-larity—
His giddy popularity
Would suffer did he not!”

And that's the problem with popularists. We need strong leaders at the top who do things because they believe they are the right thing to do, not because they think they will win them the most votes.
Someone who will do what they think is popular, will be like a grass in the wind, tossed either way depending on the wind direction.

If you're looking back 100 years then you'll find the entire world has changed dramatically.

FWIW I have now lived in the UK for coming up 28 years. Before that, I was here when Thatcher came to power. And despite the fact that the UK has gone downhill in the last 14 years, and especially in the last 5 years of the previous government, it's still so much better now than it was in 1979. It's a shame much of the world is swinging right, because some of the gains made are under threat, but on the whole I'd say the radical change has been for the better.

Which utopia will you be going to?

Its hardly guaranteed is it? Look at Trump issuing executive orders left, right and centre, that's going to somewhat disrupt plans the Democrats had

It's not all better though. Some things are far worse. And going to get far worse with serious consequences.

It might be worth looking at where we have seen positive developments and where things are not looking so good. What improvements did you have in mind?

That implies you don't think much of our system for electing our leaders then... it's never going to place the philosopher king in their throne is it?

The UK system does not allow for that kind of axe wielding, fortunately.

As to what is better now, there is a lot. Marriage equality, environmental protections, workers' rights, women's rights including things like safe legal abortion and legislation against domestic violence, including rape within Marriage, improvements in the rights of children to not be hit at home or at school.

What needs improving: inequality, education, housing. They're big and complex things, which is why pandering to the populists will get us nowhere.

And voting for a party without reading what they stand for - well, I don't want to be deleted but I have an opinion on people who do that.

Populism is very dangerous. It means doing things because they are popular (ie vote winners) even though they are wrong or damaging.

No political party has any long term plan,

No political party has any long term plan

I have heard people talk about China having a long term plan but people lack the level of democracy in order for that to happen

I prefer our system with elections, and agree populism is attributed to the other side, by some sections of the media mostly.

It would be "popular" to not pay any tax - I could easily get more than 50% to vote for that.

Your turn.

Debatable. People vote on others paying higher tax. Loads of higher tax advocates on mn.

You could easily get enough votes on someone else is paying.

I imagine you apply different standards when votes go towards parties you approve of. You can call me all the names under the sun, but you wouldn't think twice about someone voting Lib Dem, Green or Labour without reading the manifesto. This kind of disingenuous rhetoric is what creates demand for populists. Sneer away, but the fire is burning on the fuel you provide.

How do we know something is "wrong"? Isn't politics the process of how we all decide what is right and wrong. And if the majority believe something is right - then where does the authority to overrule them come from?

Your imagination is incorrect. Political illiteracy is a huge problem in the UK. Nobody should vote on tribal lines, and I am not a single party loyalist. Your assumption that I must be is a projection.

No, populism is not dangerous and it doesn't mean doing things that are popular.

Nobody should vote on tribal lines

Plenty do. I often see 'as a lifelong Labour voter' on here.

How do we know something is "wrong"? Isn't politics the process of how we all decide what is right and wrong. And if the majority believe something is right - then where does the authority to overrule them come from?

You've had some usual in posts but this is a good question.

Brexit is a prime example of 'populism' gone wrong, but not for the reasons people think. We were asked a question, we answered it. Parliament's job was then to enact that in the most effective way possible in the best interests of the country. What happened was that there was a majority in the commons who didn't agree with it, therefore it was the wrong decision. i.e. populist. Everything was thrown at overturning the decision. The population are stupid, they know now what they vote for etc. The shitshow that followed that vote by our elected politicians showed without doubt that this country is not run for the benefit of the people living in it. Brexit was a golden opportunity to do things differently for Britain and make changes that worked for us, not another 27 countries too.

Populism generally means ideas that don't accord with the two party centre right stitch up where both the Tories and Labour work to maintain the status quo that keeps the British establishment exactly where it wants to be.

It's a way of saying what you know will appeal to a large demographic to win votes - without actually thinking about the mass effect on all the population - and often without any proper plans in place too - basically shooting from the hip