It's the unfortunate fate of difficult decisions that they are usually tried in the court of public opinion. Populism in politics today would have difficult and emotional issues dealt with by knee-jerk public opinion, which is why it's difficult to make morally and legally correct decisions because if the public doesn't like the outcome. The old 'elitist' idea of politicians being elected by us so they can actually use the qualities they campaigned on, so they can use their independence of judgement, not just do what they're told, seems a bygone fantasy. Equality = Populism?