[lbo-talk] Main street populism

[brad bauerly]

The idea of 'Main street V. Wall street' is getting a lot of attention and
seems to have captured public anger at the state of the economy.   I am
hearing it even in pretty sophisticated leftist circles.  The obvious
problem is that what is meant by 'main street' is not labour or working
people but really small business or just the little guy.  So, there are
parallels with the basic conservative mantra that Big is squashing Little
and we need to make it stop.  Still others appear to be trying to use this
as an entry to critique capitalism and the Democrats role in it.  Like in
this Hudson piece.
http://www.michael-hudson.com/articles/usa/100201ObamasJunkEconomics.html

I am wondering what critiques people have of this rhetoric.  Basically I am
asking what people here think is wrong with anti-banking populism or why
can't we use it?  (Just to be overly clear, I am not taking a position)

Brad