Populism, on the right, left, and center is rising in America today in response to the failures of Wall Street and Washington D.C. elites and the Ivy Leaguers which control both. But the term is vague, just what does it actually mean?

Populism historically has been portrayed as the actions of masses of uneducated and loosely organized individuals, including large the rurally based movements here in the US during the late 19th Century. But the term is much, much older than that, going back to the unofficial Roman Senate coalition of the 'Populares' whose techniques would include citizen initiatives to address crucial issues. The Wikipedia article on the subject goes into this very interesting history in greater detail.

In no particular order some favorite pics from a recent trip:

Don't forget that you have the legal right to defend yourself against the right wing folks who are going around threatening people in this post health care reform era.

But note that they have the same legal option to build a case against the government for threatening them.

But ponder also this, that it is likely the same Wall Street Corporate Bankers and their Takeover Lawyer associates who are controlling both the government and the right wing folks such as the Tea Party.

...and we are all quite safely distracted, yes?