Catering to populist anger with extremist proposals that are

Opening Scene
The afternoon sun casts a soft glow across the room, filtering through the window and drawing shadows across the floor. The faint hum of the city outside seems distant, as if the world is gently suspended in time. Jeeny sits on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of a notebook. Jack stands near the window, arms crossed, gazing out at the quiet street below. There’s a quiet tension between them, as if the conversation that has yet to unfold is already beginning to take shape.

Host: The soft light in the room reflects the calm, but there’s a deeper sense of urgency beneath the surface. Jeeny looks up from her notebook, her eyes meeting Jack’s, and for a brief moment, the air feels charged with unspoken understanding. She speaks first, her voice soft but steady, as though she’s been waiting to share a thought that has been weighing on her.

Jeeny:
(softly, with a thoughtful tone)
“You know, Max Boot said something that really struck me. He talked about how catering to populist anger with extremist proposals, proposals that are bound to fail, is not a viable strategy for political success. And it got me thinking — in politics, and really in life, when we act out of anger, when we give in to fear or frustration, it might feel like we’re doing something right. But the result? It’s often a path to failure.”

Jack:
(turning toward her, his voice quiet but sharp)
“Yeah, I hear that. It’s like we think that by reacting to anger, we’re solving the problem. But all we’re really doing is adding fuel to the fire. The moment we base decisions on extremism, on that quick fix to appease the loudest voices, we stop seeing the bigger picture. It becomes a strategy based on emotion, not reason.”

Host: The room feels still now, as though both are processing the weight of Jack’s words. The light from the window flickers with the fading sunset, casting longer shadows across the floor. Jeeny nods slowly, as if agreeing with Jack, but there’s a deeper question beneath her expression, one she’s not yet ready to voice.

Jeeny:
(softly, her voice tinged with frustration)
“But here’s the thing, Jack. I get that anger, especially populist anger, can be manipulative, but it’s also real. People are hurting. They want change. When we only react with reason or try to play the middle ground, we risk alienating the very people who feel left behind. Don’t you think that in some cases, the anger is justified?”

Jack:
(slowly, his voice filled with a quiet resolve)
“I get it. The anger is real, but what’s the solution? If we give in to extreme proposals just to quell the rage, we’re not solving the problem. We’re pushing forward ideas that are doomed to fail, and in the process, we reinforce that anger. The danger is that we get stuck in the cycle of reaction, and it only creates more division.”

Host: The air feels thick now, the tension between them growing, but it is the kind of tension that sparks thought, not argument. Jeeny and Jack sit across from each other, both recognizing the complexity of the issue — how deep-rooted anger can sometimes overshadow the ability to reason, yet at the same time, how reason can seem too detached from the urgency of the emotion. The distant noise of the city outside seems to fade, and the conversation deepens.

Jeeny:
(softly, with a touch of vulnerability)
“I understand what you’re saying, Jack. But I feel like reason alone isn’t enough. People need to feel heard, and extremist proposals sometimes give them that. When we just rely on calm, moderate solutions, we risk ignoring the very real fear and pain they’re going through. That fear is powerful. If we don’t acknowledge it, we’ll only create more discontent.”

Jack:
(leaning forward, his tone gentle but firm)
“I agree that fear and pain are powerful forces, but if we give in to extremism, we’re just feeding the cycle. It’s not enough to simply give people what they want in the moment. We have to lead with long-term solutions, with solutions that heal, not just soothe. We need to tackle the root causes of anger, not just the symptoms. If we keep responding with extremes, we distract ourselves from real, sustainable change.”

Host: The tension between Jeeny and Jack shifts now, like a gentle ebb and flow. Their debate has moved from opposition to a more reflective space, where the complexity of human emotion meets the need for action. Jeeny’s voice softens, no longer filled with the frustration of battle, but with the quiet wisdom of someone trying to find balance. Jack, too, seems more grounded, the sharp edges of his argument softened by understanding.

Jeeny:
(softly, her voice full of realization)
“I think I see what you’re getting at. Extreme reactions might provide quick answers, but they don’t solve the deeper issues. And the cycle continues. Maybe the real solution is about finding balance — acknowledging the anger, but also navigating through it with intelligence, with long-term strategies that don’t just make people feel better in the moment, but address the root causes.”

Jack:
(nods, a quiet sense of relief in his voice)
“Exactly. We can’t just give in to anger. We have to channel it in a way that leads to progress. The key is to lead with wisdom, to find ways to bridge the gap between emotion and reason. Only then can we actually create the change that lasts.”

Host: The room feels calmer now, the debate transforming into something more reflective, something grounded in shared understanding. The fading sunlight outside gives way to a cooler, softer evening. Jeeny and Jack sit together in the quiet realization that anger and reason don’t have to be opposing forces. When used together with intention, they can drive meaningful, lasting change. The world outside continues to turn, but inside, there’s a new clarity — one that comes from seeing both sides, acknowledging the complexity of human emotion, and understanding that the true power lies in balance, not in extremes.

Jeeny:
(softly, with a sense of quiet resolve)
“Maybe the answer isn’t to eliminate the anger, but to learn how to channel it into something better. Balanced solutions are the only way forward.”

Jack:
(smiling, with understanding)
“Yeah, it’s about creating space for both the emotion and the reason. It’s not about one overpowering the other, but about finding a way to make them work together.”

Host: The evening falls into a comfortable stillness, as Jeeny and Jack sit together, knowing that true change comes not from feeding into anger, but from the thoughtful balance of emotion and reason. The world may continue to shift around them, but inside, there’s a quiet peace in understanding that solutions — real solutions — come from finding harmony, not extremes.