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An educated Indian populist movement would benefit the whole world.

Perhaps, but a populist movement that spans all of India is difficult to bring about.

It can't be based on religion, as there are many of those, each with millions of practitioners; not on language, as there are many of those, each with millions of speakers; not on caste or ethnicity as there are thousands of them; not even on race, as there are over half a dozen of them.

I think the only thing that can bring people together is something universal to all of mankind like the classical liberal/libertarian ethic that prioritises individual liberty, economic freedom, property rights, self-ownership, free markets, equality before the rule of law, due process, etc.

Only if the Indian flag becomes associated with ideals like 'freedom' and 'liberty' will the country survive without disintegrating, and like you said, will become something that the world would benefit from.

Every other populist movement has only divided and caused hatred and resentment.

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Discussion

atyh 1y ago

one movement will never encompass an entire nation.

and if you base your metric on the emotional response of those who disagree, you will forever be in limbo.

sachin 1y ago

Perhaps my point is that a populist movement will inevitably be built on certain lies and hypocrisies. It will only make things worse within the country, being as diverse as it is.

I hope to invoke a rational response while speaking with people about politics. And rationalism taken to its farthest extent can be found in the liberatarian ethic. This won't be a mass movement anytime soon, and that's okay.

atyh 1y ago

im afraid i dont trust your reasoning now. you say populism will inherently be built on lies and hypocrisy, but praise the libertarian ethic which underpins it. very strange indeed. best wishes 🙂

sachin 1y ago

All good! Best wishes to you too.

My definition of a populist movement based on my experience and observation in India is as something that seeks to encompass as many people as possible by making compromises on what is true and what is not.

The libertarian ethic is the only one that comes the closest to describing the truth about human nature and an ideal society that abides by it. It is a legal theory that is quite absolute in most of its conclusions and not an ideology that can be twisted for the sake of popularity.

These two don't go together right now, because the society I live in is built on many lies and hypocrisies.

For something like Libertarianism to become popular, many individuals have to start living within the truth voluntarily. I will admit that I do not know if this is possible or if it will happen.

I can only say that I hope it will one day.