The Populist Movement and the Health Care debate a Lesson

At the turn of the 20th and near the end of 19th Century there was a big , what we would call today, grass roots movement in the South. It was called the Populist movement. It featured such colorful characters as Sock-less Jerry Simpson, and famous figures like William Jennings Bryan.

There were a lot of poor folk in the South and this movement was aimed at changing and empowering these folk. Now the party that controlled the South was the Democratic party. So this movement really challenged the fat cats in the Democratic party and was a threat to them. What happened?

The Democratic party leaders split the movement by raising the issue of race. The party before this had black and white members. But by raising the issue of race the fat cats split the movement. In the end they were able to kill it. Divided the movement was too weak to survive. So something that was good and would have made positive changes for folks was derailed .

Today we have debate about heath care. WE NEED SOME TYPE OF REFORM. This post is not about what type but it is about the debate. The shouting and the rumor mongering going on today instead of debate is the new way of derailing the process. If we allow the process to get derailed by hate and fear mongers, then like the folks who allowed it to happen to them during the populist movement we will all be losers.