Fat pigs rolling in dough.

Editor,

Thomas Frank laid out how the right has been ingeniously coopting populism for the last 30 years in his book "One Market Under God" published in 2000. The idea is that powerful right-wing elites align themselves with popular discontent with the handiwork of powerful right-wing elites by redefining who or what the elites are and standing tall against them.

"New Economy" capitalists defined the enemy of everyman not as themselves but as hide-bound "traditions" and cast themselves as daring rebels assailing them. The story is much the same today.

"Mavericks" standing for "the people" channel people's anger precisely at anyone who would whittle down the power of powerful right-wing elites. This is politics. It isn't played for fun, and it isn't pretty. Everyday people are ruined, and everyday people die to keep fat pigs fat and rolling in other people's money.

re: "Palin’s Cunning Sleight of Hand" (2/14/2010)