issues, topics about which you have posted eloquently. The problem, in my opinion, is that we are midst of a huge technological change and have been for some time. That has created significant economic displacement and been exacerbated by governmental policies that produce increasing income inequality.

People aren't stupid; they perceive this. But they are then more susceptible to the suggestion that there's somebody else to blame. China, immigrants, minorities, democratic norms, partisan paralysis, you name it. The "solution" can then be populist. Trumpism, Bernieism (if there is such a thing), rejection of the establishment to the point of wanting to tear it down completely, at the point where we really need to be working collectively to solve or adapt to the problem.