It is important to understand the difference between a demagogue and a politician and to discern the difference, in order to protect the common good. Such a task is not easy, because they can sound very convincing. Yet, before every election, that task confronts us. So let’s examine the similarities and differences.
Politician: a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of, or a candidate for, an elected office. Demagogue: a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices, rather than by using rational argument.
Both will be seeking an elected office. However, their motive for seeking office will be quite different. The demagogue will seek office for reasons unrelated to the common good. It can be an ego trip; it can be to enrich oneself and/or friends and supporters; it can be to seek revenge. It might be any combination of these things. However, the common good– the welfare of all of us–is not their primary motive.
The primary motive of a politician is to improve the common good. A politician will be driven by ideas for solving problems in our society. How effective their solutions might be is debatable. This is why good, healthy debates are necessary.
Unfortunately, it is difficult to accurately determine a candidate’s primary motive. For that reason, we must rely on observable behavior.
Demagogues will use peoples’ prejudices to their advantage. They will pit Downstate, IL, against Chicago, IL; city people against rural people; people of color against Whites; foreigners against “natives”; Christians against Jews, Muslims, etc. Suspicion and hate are their tools of trade. They promote “Us” not “Them.”
Politicians, on the other hand, will try to unite people around a solution to a problem, around ideas of justice, fairness, and compassion. Enhanced Medicare for All is an example of trying to unite people around a solution to health care coverage and reasonable costs. It can be debated how best to accomplish this. Would our society be better, if everyone had access to needed health care? Would Illinois be a better place to live, if our Constitution were changed to allow a progressive income tax, whereby the people who benefit the most from our society pay the most? This is an example of unifying people around a concept of justice and fairness. Such ideas can be debated on their merits.
Demagogues will out-right lie or tell half-truths to win people over. They will overstate their qualifications. They will quote statements out of context. They embrace simplistic solutions that appeal to people. For example, “I will cut taxes and balance the budget.”