Yes, and I don't understand that aspect of this problem. Yes, people want to believe that someone is capable of helping them, sure. It really should matter (but it seems that it doesn't) if what these populist leaders say they will do will actually solve the problem. The last minute of that YouTube clip is relevant to the psychology post I included. Bernie calls attention to the fact that people will follow someone who promises to help... even if they won't in fact help. I sometimes say that Americans treat elections like high school pep rallies, where they have to show support for their team, instead of like actual polls where they register what they consider reasonable plans to address problems of interest to them.