On “Populism”
A decade ago or so, a โpopulistโ was someone who appealed to the supposed reactionary underbelly of the common folk to win votes and/or influence. โPopulistsโ were usually found on the right of the political spectrum, often even the extreme right. But things have changed and nowadays so-called โpopulistโ movements and parties are often better described as leftist than as right wing (or as mixtures of left-wing and right-wing views). โPopulismโ and โpopulistโ are usually terms of abuse: they express disapproval and disdain. What provokes this disapproval and disdain is that the alleged populist(s) crosses the boundaries of acceptable political...
No, youโre not entitled to your opinion
Nearly everyone seems to believe that they are entitled to their opinion, but it is not exactly clear what that means. This commonly claimed entitlement is some kind of supposed right, but neither the action it is supposed to allow, nor the duties it entails are clear. All rights imply duties. Often these are negative duties โ that is, duties not to do something. For example, if you have a right to free speech, then the government has the negative duty not to arrest you for speaking your mind. And if you have a right to life, then everyone else...