The Point of Democracy is Populism
Democracy is dependent upon populism. The more of the population who casts a vote in one direction or the other determines who wins power. It's not a complicated idea. Part of the bargain requires that win your side loses, you accept the loss. We're not quite so good at that part lately.
Jimmy Carter was kind, soft spoken, came from humble beginnings. He was religious and considerate of those who were in need—the American people. Carter won the presidency over Ford because we wanted an outsider. We wanted someone who was good. And so we elected a peanut farmer to be our leader. And his presidency was the second coming.